Government, Size, Proportion

The substantive, and codified, 'Small Government' vs. 'Big Government' contrast in the United States is not the economic one, but that of State vs. Federal.  Furthermore, as the struggle over the suppression of voting rights in Mississippi in the 1960s shows, Big Government can be accused of 'under-reach' rather than of 'overreach', thereby indicating that the more fundamental problem is not that of 'size', but of proportion.  Now, two of the decisive factors in the determination of Proportion in Government are geographical scope and technology, e. g. communication and transportation.  Thus, for example, while Athens is geographically smaller than the United States, surveillance capacities can facilitate more comprehensive governance in the latter.  Plus, evidence of the degree of centralization required in a near future Global entity is still lacking.  But, in any case, determinable in principle is that optimum Proportion in Political Philosophy is a function of effectiveness in promoting the strength of a Polity.