The problem with America and its government is not that it is top heavy, too big, fat, oppressive, etc. The problem is that it is largely subject to the nonsense thinking from the Right that is more driven by unconcern for improving people's lives and greater concern with what they judge as moral failings or lack of entitlement.

Unlike most of Northern Europe, empiricism and broad results for people are not what rule political choice in the USA. And this has a lot to do with election law, lobbying, etc. The role of money in elections, highly organized interest groups, and politics free of results-orientation are the problems.

Elections in Europe are mostly state-funded and rules-based and hence they have more real choices than Red or Blue. And Europeans are more interested in better lives for all citizens... free education, free/cheap medical care, lots of free time, great public infrastructure (see rail travel here versus there), etc.

And we care more about religious belief as a solution rather than a problem.