Bush warns of too much government - Washington Times

Bush warns of too much government - Washington Times: "Former President George W. Bush said Thursday that America must resist the 'temptation' to allow the government to take over the private sector, taking a subtle shot at his Democratic successor by warning that too much state intervention and protectionism will squelch the economic recovery.

As the Obama administration has made far-reaching moves into the auto, real estate, health care and financial sectors to fight the economic recession, Mr. Bush, without mentioning the president by name, said, 'The role of government is not to create wealth but to create the conditions that allow entrepreneurs and innovators to thrive.

'As the world recovers, we will face a temptation to replace the risk-and-reward model of the private sector with the blunt instruments of government spending and control. History shows that the greater threat to prosperity is not too little government involvement, but too much,' said Mr. Bush, who has remained out of the limelight since leaving office and rarely criticizes his successor."