Is this where the U.S. is headed?

Yep, and it's only gonna get worse over the next four years no matter who we put in The White House. Big government begets big government. However, it's not all our fault. Part of the problem is due to the rapid growth of previous poor nations, such as China and India. Their increased demand for oil is jacking up the price of gasoline and other petroleum related products to the point where we may soon be unable to afford them. Although the Bush administration can't actually come out and say it, that is the real reason we are in Iraq. It's all about oil. And what better reason to be there than that? Afterall, what are you gonna run your car on without it...?