>Embolded part IMO is narrowing the focus too much. Besides deficit and surplus is the changing percentage to redistribution/welfare plans strangling the "basic tasks" you correctly define as messy.
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From Wikipedia:

>>The top marginal tax rate in 1960 was 91%, which applied to income over $200,000 (for single filers) or $400,000 (for married filers) – thresholds which correspond to approximately $1.5 million and $3 million, respectively, in today's dollars. Approximately 0.00235% of households had income taxed at the top rate.
>>

The maximum rate now is 37% and even that is routinely dodged by the wealthy.

So, let's look again at your statement that "redistribution/welfare plans strangling the "basic tasks" you correctly define as messy"

The two numbers above, 91% descending to 37%, describe a staggering redistribution of wealth to those who need it least.

It's tempting to blame "social" programs for stealing money from roads, etc. but the massive sums represented by those two numbers dwarf the pittance for food stamps handed to widows who can't work.