The World is not divided between East and West

[bhikkhu]

2. As far as the outward militaristic public postures, I would agree

...but most of the work of government involves regulating business, which would otherwise devolve us back to a 1900-style economy of crushing work and chronic poverty.

As I've said often, capitalism inherently concentrates wealth, and government acts to balance that, otherwise we have a dysfunctional society - a tiny slice of wealth and ease on top, and the rest in abject misery. Much of what government does is good. Problems can arise from too large a government, of course, but our problems are more those of a too small government, out of balance with the massive wealth and influence of the business sector.