Of course, if the government wasn't so anti-labor and in bed with corporations, people wouldn't need Social Security, Medicare, and could afford to put their kids in a private school where they actually learned stuff. But you're right. My bible thumper dad and step-mom are republicans, believe in small government, and protested when Tennessee was creating their scholarship lottery about 20 yrs ago b/c it was sinful gambling. BTW, he hasn't worked in 20 yrs (was stay at home-schooling dad) and now pulls in SS, she has her masters and works for the state as a prison school teacher, and my half sister went to school on that same lottery scholarship. Kinda hard to get behind small government when every cent coming into your household is the product of big government. I don't mind people standing up for their beliefs...just don't be a hypocrite about it.

BTW...out of all mentioned, the local fire department may be the only one not completely mismanaged, bloated, inefficient, in serious decay, or worse, killing us via poison or as unarmed citizens with no repercussions. If you're argument was that moderate socialism in America can be productive and beneficial, you might want to rethink your examples.