That isn't really true, now or ever. It is old, crusty propaganda. It is their excuse for their actions of opposing any and all (useful and fair) government spending, but they really just want to funnel all that same amount of government money, if not more, into the pockets of the people who bribe them. They also obviously don't believe this as far as personal liberties, they want more power with which to control all finances to their own ends.

None of that is "small" it is better described as "ineffective" or how I see it, "not designed for your benefit"