What is the purpose of Government?

[Blindgroping]

With what's been happening lately, and with Bush's new Eminent Domain power,
I was wondering, just what is the purpose of government and why do we pay for it?

john locke
Quote
What is the purpose of government? This question is not so easily answered by the uneducated or the common man. In today’s drastically changing world, responses to this question would vary from person to person and country to country. Some would say, government is here to protect us. Others would say, government is here to provide social services or protect private property. While those potential answers may help us to see individual areas of an overall mission, we must look closer at the underlying principles of government to really answer the question.


Wiki

Associated Content
Quote
Ever wonder what the government is good for, what is its purpose? Well simply the government is defined as an authority that rules a country, an essential part of a nation. The government tends to provide stability, which makes many things possible. The government makes laws, provides services, and keeps order. The government solves disagreements between individuals, groups, and nations.


CliffsNotes
Quote
When you try to figure out the purpose of government, you can easily get bogged down in all of the many things a government does or should do — from defending the people to managing the federal budget. And if you ask a dozen people what the purpose of government is, you'd probably get a dozen different answers, depending on individual point of view.


philosophical

What do you think?

And what can you derive from the governments bevahior?
Is this good and proper or bad and improper?

 

[Conchaga]

Easy.

An elected establishment used to provide protection to it's citizens. Protection means a standing army for the defense of the nation, police and fire departments, and a judiciary system.

Infrastructure and education are optional.

 

[Blindgroping]

So, the actual Welfare of the citizens is of no concern?

 

[Conchaga]

Private charities are capable of that.

 

[motley]

simply....to illiminate chaos......which is, sometimes......fun....

 

[NeonMercuryASH]

Have you been to Wall Street Lately?

 

[Dual]

The purpose of government is to protect its citizens. Police, fire, courts, a defensive military.

The purpose of government is NOT to make its citizens better... Education, welfare, healthcare, drug laws, civil laws, economic regulations, etc.

 

[Blindgroping]

The purpose of government is to protect its citizens. Police, fire, courts, a defensive military.

The purpose of government is NOT to make its citizens better... Education, welfare, healthcare, drug laws, civil laws, economic regulations, etc.

Explain why the Gov't shouldn't/doesn't do these things.

 

[SuN]

The purpose of the government is to fuck u over, liek dah

 

[Dual]

Explain why the Gov't shouldn't/doesn't do these things.

Explain why it should.

 

[Oh my god it's Robby!]

The purpose of government is to protect its citizens. Police, fire, courts, a defensive military.

if only such stated purposes were what most governments actually did
however, that is rarely what happens in reality
instead we get a government payed for mainly by the middle class to protect the property rights of the super rich and corporations
whilst the poor are treated to a 'carrot or stick' routine they never cease to fall for...