In the debate between liberals and conservatives, the role of government is a favorite topic. After decades of growth in the size and role of the federal government, Ronald Reagan famously began his presidency in the 1980s by saying, “Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem.” Even Democrat Bill Clinton acknowledged in the 1990s that “the era of big government is over.”

Well, big government is back in the 2020s. President Joe Biden is proposing nearly $6 trillion in new government spending, doubling the entire federal budget for 2021. Biden told Congress and the nation last month, “We have to prove that government still works and can deliver for our people.” COVID-19 relief, infrastructure, education, child care, unemployment relief — seemingly nothing is beyond the scope of Biden’s federal government. Increased federal powers and spending from the coronavirus crisis are rolling forward into all aspects of life.