This is a very good observation, Monte. But I would argue that prosperity produces government benefits. And what produces prosperity are values for which the government insures space - equal justice under the law, private property rights, free speech rights, and freedom of religion. 

"We the people," acting collectively to navigate the Scylla of anarchy and the Charybdis of despotism, have constitutionally assigned very limited roles to government, none of which include producing wealth. We share our wealth with one another through elected representatives - not to make government an engine of productivity, but to secure peace and protect our liberty to pursue our individual well-being as we define it. Pooling our resources for infrastructure certainly can create conditions for wealth production. But saddling our children and grandchildren with mountains of debt so we can have what we want, while financing a welfare state only creates a dangerous illusion of prosperity.