What is the purpose of "government"?

[kentuck]

http://blog.mises.org/6546/james-wilson-on-the-purpose-of-government-and-the-constitution/

<snip>
” … in a regulated society…The liberty of every member is increased…for each gains more by the limitation of the freedom of every other member, than he loses by the limitation of his own. The result is that civil government is necessary to the perfection and happiness of man.”

” … without a good government, liberty cannot exist.”

“Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.”

“The citizens of the United States… best pleased with that system of government which would best promote their freedom and happiness.”

” … in this government, liberty shall reign triumphant.”

......more

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Succinctly, to serve the best interests of The People.

Not corporate personhood, but real people.

[NightWatcher]

2. I always thought it was to maintain the Social Contract

The social contract is the concept that human beings have made an agreement with their government, where the government and the people have distinct roles and responsibilities. The theory is based on the idea that humans abandoned a natural (free and ungoverned) condition in favor of a society that provides them with order, structure, and, very importantly, protection. We, the citizens, have responsibilities and the government have their responsibilities to uphold to maintain a balance and peace.

We agree to give up some "freedoms" (ie freedom to drive on the left side of the road at 100mph...) in order to have the rest of our activites protected by the government (ie protected from idiots driving 100 mph on the left side of the road)....

When one side fails to live up to their side of the "contract", I believe the contract becomes null and void.

[ThomWV]

3. To protect the citizens from predators, both foreign and domestic.

[indepat]

4. The main objectives of this government is to provide for the welfare of the uber-wealthy and large

international corporations and to exert global hegemony: it is there in a nutshell for all to see. :patriot:

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I think we were writing at the same time. You hit the Post button first.

Ah, well…

[indepat]

9. Would it be something like great minds running on the same track?

Ha, ha! :patriot:

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Easy question.

The purpose of government is to facilitate the transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich, which is to say, from those who produce the wealth to the parasites who sit atop them.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. To tell you how they are going to spend your money. n/t

[hansberrym]

8. Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power

Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power
Economic Decision-Making Is an Activity Subject to Congress’s Commerce Clause Power




It is not among the legitamate purposes of government to enslave us!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

10. Within the US Constitution Preamble...

...are the purposes for which government exists:

1)"...in Order to form a more perfect Union..."
2)"...establish Justice..."
3)"...insure domestic Tranquility..."
4)"...provide for the common defence..."
5)"...promote the general Welfare..."
6)"...secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."

Most basically, all of the above are focused on number 6. From the Declaration of Independence:
"...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...".

One of the principals operating in the US is that of Judicial Supremacy. Unlike in the UK where Legislative Supremacy is the rule, laws enacted in the US may be Constitutionally challenged in court. Those found lacking become nullified.

[Trajan]

11. While I agree with most of your statement

I take issue with the first, which is a classic Circular fallacy - Circulus in demonstrando

Plainly stated, your assertion is this - 'Government exists in order to form a more perfect government'

'A' = a more perfect 'A' .... Obviously fallacious ...

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

12. Likewise....

...I take issue with that same statement on grammatical/logical issues.

Since a perfect union did/does/could not exist, referring to that union comparatively is rather a hyperbole.
From the sense of the founders and the writings of Madison, who drafted most of the document, I gather the intention was to provide a sense of continuity from the then current confederation to the proposed constitutional republic.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

13. On a side note...

...concerning your corollary, "Government exists in order to form a more perfect government", elected and appointed officials who work toward that end need to be dismissed. ;-)

[tabasco]

14. To keep us safe from things like marijuana

Thank GAWD!!!!!!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one

Thomas Paine

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

17. "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities...

...because it is the quality which guarantees all others." Churchill

[dipsydoodle]

16. Control

.