Why must the guvmint do it?
Uh... this is why
what about the mentally and physically handicapped people whose family won't take responsibility for their well being?
And yes, it does happen. We even get people in hospital admitted because the "family wants a break" from taking care of them.
The days of "family taking care of family" are over. Whether it's because everyone in the house needs to work and no one can take care of said mentally or physically handicapped person, or they just don't "want" to it ends up the same; the people needing care aren't getting it from family. And in that case there's no one else BUT the government to take care of them in some way/shape/form.
Unless you're all for shoving them out onto the streets to fend for themselves?