Does bigger government really mean less altruistic citizens?

The Republicans would have you believe it.
Interesting question look forward to reading the answers you receive.

I suspect that if there is a great deal less need for altruism, there will be less of it in evidence. What would be your reaction to my telling you that I was trying urgently to leave Chicago to set up a soup kitchen in Stockholm?

The size of Government has nothing to do with the altruism of the governed.

There are a great many humanitarian volunteers in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia. I don’t want to live in either place.

Well, They might be more altruistic but that doesn’t mean that they would provide more help than a government sponsored agency.

If a person is truly altruistic (which I don’t believe in) there should be no barriers and no variables that would alter that conviction.

I live in a HUGE government country. Norwegians still give. They do it quietly and somewhat dispassionately, but they do it. They give in ways that aren’t always obvious. The Universities are free here. They accept a HUGE amount of foreign students. They can get student loans for living expenses. If they move back to their own countries, many times, the loan is never asked to be repaid. The charities are very well looked after. I LOVE shopping at the Salvation Army here.

Also, what is more altruistic than voting, consistently, for a way of life that is aimed at looking after people who need a safety net?

Many municipalities have the means to store large quantities of water that enable a consistent distribution to their population. I view this as analogous to a government’s ability to collect and distribute money to support services for those in need. Opportunities for employment are limited; the standard seems to be at least 5% must unemployed, which does not include those that are unable to work because of illness, disabilities and age. Federal taxes used to fund necessary expenses such as the military and government agencies leave little money to meet the needs of these people. Therefore, altruistic efforts by individuals and organizations will continue to be required.

Altruistic governments are created by an altruistic populace, because they are the ones voting for it.
If a government is not altruistic, then the populace does not care enough to vote for politicians that would implement these policies. And therefore, the populace at large is not altruistic.