I'm against using the state to lessen its size and scope. All attempts to do this have failed miserably!!
Say what?
You're against the state lessening its size because attempts have failed?
I think it's time for a reality check. Yes, the state has grown but every so often the state pulls itself back a bit. The tax cuts are a big example. Clinton had them a bit higher, and now they are lower. It's true that other shit has grown, but it does prove that some stuff can be rolled back. Getting rid of the capital gains/dividends tax is certainly helping me. That's a roll back.
The answer to your statement is merely this. The government does have the potential to roll back a great deal if you look legitimately at some of the smaller gains. The problem with the government growing in other areas is purely because of the elected officials. If you change the elected officials, why wouldn't more things like the tax cuts occur? Why wouldn't we pull out of Iraq? By all means, we could have stayed in Vietnam, but an elected official changed the policy.
I don't see what the big issue here is. Either we help elect Ron Paul and it gives us some limited government help on the off chance he makes progress, or we all give up and the train continues its non-stop trip to shitsville anyhow.