I'm sure they tell you excellent reasons for doing this.

The secret to analyzing government programs is to look beyond what they put on the label, and look at the actual results.

Almost every government social program in the United States, regardless of its stated purpose (which it usually doesn't accomplish very well), increases the power of the central government at the expense of the individual. I have never seen a major government program that did the reverse.

What you are looking at in Europe is the intrusion into your lives that comes with the goodies the government passes out. If you get your medical care from the State, of course the State has the right to know everything about your health, habits, medical history, sex life, or anything that might impact your medical costs. Come to think of it, that's a pretty long list of things, isn't it?

If the State pays your retirement, they have the right to know how you spend your money. After all, it's not like its your own money, right?

It's probably too late for Europe, but I hope in America we still have time to decide whether we want to be free individuals or the property of the State.