Surely it was things like the New Deal and the Great Society that allowed for the amazing growth the US witnessed during what many believe to be the USA's 'golden years'. As did the creation of the welfare state and NHS in the UK allowed for the same. I think it's the haphazard dismantling of all that came before by baby boomers who benefited the most of the state's largesse in that post war period to be the most appalling thing.