I would like to know which specific programs you believe are "antithetical to the common good".
Let's start with the twin pillars of Medicare/Medicaid. They cost $3500 per capita. In UK, AUS, ITA, SPA, and JPN, that's enough to create universal care. In the US, Medicare and Medicaid cover senior citizens, with a few alms left for the poor. Medicare/Medicaid have the distinction of delivering lower overall health and shorter lifespan, as well.
The poverty entitlement complex, anchored around Welfare, is equally bad. It boasts marginal tax rates in excess of 100% for some taxpayers. In other words, the government takes away more benefits than some people can earn with part time labor. Same is true of unemployment for some workers. The rate of poverty reduction slowed after Welfare was created. Not hard to determine why. SNAP should be cash, as well, not backdoor corporate ag handouts.
Social Security is less problematic, though defined benefit pits seniors against their own progeny. In a defined benefit programs, there are no consequences for raising taxes on younger generations. In fact, all of the costs of tax increases are shifted onto the generation being taxed. Laughable in a "free" society, but let's not move to defined contribution or another system :/
The debate in the US is not really whether or not we should have entitlements. It's whether or not the least effective entitlement state in the history of democratic civilization can be reformed before the US causes another global economic collapse.
