The size of the welfare state is understated in the USA because of the substantial voluntary private spending on, for example, health insurance. The OECD data below takes account of these private social spending. It shows that the USA has in fact the largest welfare state in the English-speaking countries.
Source: Social Expenditure Database (SOCX) – OECD.
How much of the large size of the welfare state in the USA is due to spending on the health sector in the USA is for another day when purchasing power parity comparisons would have to be made.
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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