While it is popular to say the US is a “nanny state” or the we need to drastically cut the size of the Federal Government, I suggest that is pure rhetoric and manipulation unless you are willing to base your opinions on real numbers.  Here are the numbers:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258

If by nanny state you mean safety net programs, they make up 14% on the 2010 budget.  This is what safety net programs are:

These programs include: the refundable portion of the earned-income and child tax credits, which assist low- and moderate-income working families through the tax code; programs that provide cash payments to eligible individuals or households, including Supplemental Security Income for the elderly or disabled poor and unemployment insurance; various forms of in-kind assistance for low-income families and individuals, including food stamps, school meals, low-income housing assistance, child-care assistance, and assistance in meeting home energy bills; and various other programs such as those that aid abused and neglected children.

If you mean social security it was 20% of the 2010 budget.

If you mean Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) was 21% of the 2010 budget.

Defense and Security was 20% of the 2010 budget.

Interest on debt was 6% of the 2010 budget.

Interest on debt was 19% of the 2010 budget.

Other is:

■7% – Benefits for federal retirees and veterans: This subcategory combines the veterans’ benefits and services function (700) and the federal employee retirement and disability subfunction (602, which is part of the income security function).

■3% – Education: The education subcategory combines three subfunctions of the education, training, employment, and social services function: elementary, secondary, and vocational education; higher education; and research and general educational aids (subfunctions 501, 502, and 503 respectively).

■2% – Scientific and medical research : This subcategory consists of the general science, space, and technology function (250), and the health research and training subfunction (552).

■3% – Transportation : This subcategory consists of the entire transportation function (400).

■1% – Non-security international: This subcategory consists of the international affairs function (150) except for international security assistance, which is included with defense, above.

■4% – All other: This subcategory consists of all other federal expenditures.

This is where the rubber meets the road.  Talk is cheap…extremist’s self-righteous indignation is manipulative…manipulation ends when reason begins…

So now that you know what it is, tell me how would you make radical changes?  Give specific percentages please.