Before the Conservatives jump all over the article, the full article has a few key caveats.
1. Spending on stuff, like infrastructure and public services, is substantially down. In the chart, the US has never spent less as a percentage of GDP providing public services.
2. Public sector employment has long been in decline.
Important dimension (also covered) is that high spending does not necessarily get things done. At least in appearance - but most likely in reality also.
On the contrary, occasionally an urgent matter (say, a bridge replacement) gets a spending push and amazement ensues that it can actually be done. i.e. cases of both high spending and fast result.
1. Spending on stuff, like infrastructure and public services, is substantially down. In the chart, the US has never spent less as a percentage of GDP providing public services.
2. Public sector employment has long been in decline.
3. Entitlements are crowding out everything else.