I do remember you presenting this idea earlier. I confess that the details of that message must have become lost in time.
As for the essential services argument. I must say that all levels of government can not be lumped together into a single entity. Each level of government operates on different sets of rules.
The Federal Government, that we all must care about has a very specific set of rules that are, largely, designed to limit their ability to "stick it to us". Too many of the people in Washington are what can kindly be called "bleeding hearts" and believe that being a parent to the people of the nation qualifies as "promote the general welfare". But in doing so they tend to ignore the very next section; "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity". Washington is promoting the first at the expense of the second!