The Progressive World View goes something like this:
America was founded as a slave nation for white, European men. The United States protected the institution of slavery by making property rights the foundation of liberty. Later the industrial revolution and the capitalist that it served, grew their wealth on the backs of child labor in horrible, grinding factory work. It wasn't until the development of OSHA, EPA, the National Labor Relations Board and Unions liberated workers from grinding poverty of "unbridled" capitalism. Therefore, government of, for and by the people exist. We are the government. The government exist for our safety and well being and our "public servants" labor tireless, altruistically on our behalf so we can live under the reality of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
The Book that Made Me an Economist by Sean Ritenour - The Misesian (quaterly magazine of Mises.org)
