Looking for a reference

I'm looking for a reference, maybe someone could help me out. I've been trying to find when it became acceptable and sound policy for the government to take money from people who are financially responsible and save it, and give it to people who are financially irresponsible and waste it. I don't remember this being in the mandate for the government, and I'm fairly sure this was not the intent when the country was founded, at least as far as I remember from civics lessons.

Yet here we are, with Congress and Bush both praising a plan which does just that, and it seems to be both accepted by the people and welcomed with open arms. When did the US become a socialist country? I think I missed the memo... can someone direct me to it? And how do I get off the socialist welfare-state boat?