This statement right there serves to illustrate the difference between American society then, and society now. And even more specifically liberal thought vs conservative thought.

There is some irony in the fact that Kennedy would most likely be a republican nowadays if you went strictly on his political views. He would even recognize the democrats of today and would most likely mistake them for socialists.

Kennedy knew that government should be there to protect us from each other, not protect us from ourselves.

The more you expect government to do things for you, the more you give them the power to do things to you. I think the population knew this back then, unfortunately I don't think they do any more.