No, the government is there to protect the people.  We didn't have an income tax until, what, 1860 or so?  And that was to fund a war.  As far as how tax money is spent, we are at the mercy of whomever is in Congress (hence why we vote).  This country has had a lot of religion co-mingled with government since its founding, mostly Judeo-Christian-based.  All of this fairness crap started in the 1960s, with Johnson.  Remember Kennedy's, "Ask not..." speech?