The idea that the government breaks our legs and gives us crutches, while saying we couldn't get along without them is text book Münchausen syndrome by proxy.
Münchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental disorder where a parent/guardian deliberately brings harm to their children or a vulnerable adult in order to gain attention, be needed and/or obtain some other selfish benefit. This is precisely the disease afflicting the US Federal Government and most of the politicians who run it, with the average citizen as the unsuspecting victim. In order for the government to get what it wants, it brings harm to the governed through an insidious mechanism, stimulating the governed to seek help from the very people who brought them harm in the first place.
Let me take the list of signs and symptoms of Münchausen syndrome by proxy taken from Wikipedia and modify them so they are more politically oriented.
A citizen who has one or more problems that do not respond to "stimulus" or that follow an unusual course that is persistent, puzzling and unexplained.
Physical findings that are highly unusual, discrepant with history, or physically impossible.
A politician who appears to be bureaucratically knowledgeable and/or fascinated with bureaucratic details and political gossip, appears to enjoy the bureaucratic environment, and expresses interest in the details of other country's problems.
A highly attentive politician who is reluctant to leave their citizens' side and who themselves seem to require constant attention.
A politician who appears to be unusually calm in the face of serious difficulties in their citizens' financial problems while being highly supportive and encouraging of the physician or a politician who is angry, devalues staff, and demands further intervention, more money, second opinions, and construction of other more expensive facilities.
The suspected politician may work in industry themselves or profess interest in industry-related subjects.
The signs and symptoms of citizens' problems do not occur in the Government's absence (anarchy and careful monitoring may be necessary to establish this causal relationship).
A history of similar or unexplained financial recessions or depressions.
A politician with symptoms similar to their citizen's own problems or history that itself is puzzling and unusual.
A suspected emotionally distant relationship between two political parties; at least one party often fails to visit the citizen and has little contact with experts even when the citizens are having serious problems.
A politician who reports dramatic, negative events, such as house fires, burglaries, or car accidents, that affect them and their citizens while undergoing "stimulus".
A politician who seems to have an insatiable need for adulation or who makes self-serving efforts for public acknowledgment of their abilities.
So, am I right or am I right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchausen_syndrome_by_proxy
But unlike the parent/guardian, the government's "crutch" is usually worse than the broken leg it first provides, as explained by both Mary J. Ruwart and Harry Browne.
Actually, I was borrowing the term "crutch" from one of Shane's videos. I'm practically copying verbatim what he said as he was quoting somebody else.
I was quoting Harry Browne.
I thought children loved Captain Crutch cereal.