What is the increasing acceptance of the idea that government can and should be responsible for the welfare...?

49% do not pay income tax, but pay property tax, school tax, sales tax, gasoline tax, and the list goes on. Everybody pays taxes. There are less paying income tax now because with the recession there are more out of work. The average earnings of the bottom earners has also been going down, so they are poor enough to be in a low tax bracket.

It is in the Constitution.

The Preamble says:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Congress is granted authority under Article I, section 8 of the Constitution to “pay the debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.

As you can see, there is no hard line limits set by the Constitution. z

As usual, I am going to same something that is against the General Flock Opinion and will get boo'd and hissed at.

Is allowing your child to sit on the couch, eating unhealthy food, muscle strength dwindling, obesity and disease setting in, all in the guise of being nice, giving him what he wants Considered promoting his welfare?

No it's not and no one can say it is.

We are NOT promoting the GENERAL Welfare with our Social and Corporate Policies. Rather just the opposite, but are Asthmatic, Obese Children going to vote for you to take away their Nintendos and Happy Meals? Not a chance.

It will take a real, understanding, caring parent to say No, and we have not Government Officials in any position willing to do the Hard Things.

Thanks for letting me pontificate, even though I know it will be to no avail.

United States Constitution,

Preamble

AND

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1.

Read it and shut up.

read the preamble of the constitution and look for the the phrase "promote the general welfare"

49% of people no longer pay taxes.