But we don't get back what we put in ever. Government is by nature inefficient. You gave education as an example so I will use it as well. The US spends more per child on education then most other countries and yet we fall behind them in test scores. http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/education/education-at-a-glance-2014_eag-2014-en#page206 Pg. 206 for source. You assume that government must provide these things but truthfully social security could be replaced by private retirement accounts (ira) and private schools already exist with a higher standard and lower cost per student.