The big problem is when government decides what is enough for everyone. To use a concrete, recent example:
Disclaimer here: NO I am not bashing Michelle Obama here. Anyone could have come up with this plan in government. I am using it solely as an example because it fits the discussion.
School lunches. Michelle Obama rammed through a standardized "healthy" school lunch program while First Lady. It was intended to give every student the same sort of "healthy" lunch at school everyday. Alternatives were to be banned, even forbidden, in the interests of everyone getting the same and enough.
As it went into effect, it quickly crashed and burned. One person's "enough" was insufficient for another. For example, the calories allowed were low as the program was supposed to fight obesity and had to fit all students. So, while this calorie count might have been fine or even generous for a sedentary small female, it was nearly a starvation level diet for a large male athlete. No accounting was made for different needs. Everyone got the same and that was supposed to be "more than enough."
The program also quickly devolved into lunches that were bland, unappetizing, and repetitive. Students often started throwing them out or not eating them to begin with. Black markets arose to replace the lack of food and snacks. Students and teachers started smuggling in junk food, snacks, and other items, now banned by the program, to satisfy student demand for food. Students with means simply paid up and even participated as black marketeers. Those without such means were forced to eat the gruel being served if they wanted a meal.
The whole program was an unmitigated disaster. When government gets to decide for everyone, no one will be satisfied with the outcome.
That's reality. Government is the worst way to do just about anything and should only be used when there is no viable alternative to it.
