Is Government empowering the intellectual disarming of America and promoting apathy?

by trying to be the big brother, swoop in and help all, provide for all, and generally make sure people don't have to do a thing for themselves, or worry about consequences of their actions, since the government will do it for them, or at the least bail them out of their own bad decisions? Wheres the accountability? Wheres the motivation to better yourself or to be informed?