Government, rather than religion (pace Marx) is the opiate of the people. Given sparingly, it might be beneficial, but with continued dosage over time, addiction develops. With it comes the phenomenon of tolerance, which calls for ever larger doses to achieve the desired effect. Continuing on such a path will lead to the grave, but withdrawal is painful, and it’s very difficult to kick the habit. This is where the U.S. and western Europe find themselves today.