Well, I ckecked the dictionaries and I feel windicated in that the first meaning of "anticipate" does not imply desire:

1. regard as probable; expect or predict: she anticipated scorn on her return to the theater.  ∎   guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared: they failed to anticipate a full scale invasion.  ∎   look forward to: Stephen was eagerly anticipating the break from the routine of business.  ∎   use or spend in advance.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman