What is the purpose of government?

[Varaj]

What do you feel the purpose of government be?

For me the number one thing should be to protect me from others.
The secondary purpose is provide services that cannot be provided efficiently by any other orginization.

[FeatsofClay]

Organization of our communal life, protection of rights and physical self and posessions, maintenance of order and collective financial goals.

[The Winslow]

What do you feel the purpose of government be?

For me the number one thing should be to protect me from others.
The secondary purpose is provide services that cannot be provided efficiently by any other orginization.

I'm lumping "protection of citizens against internal and external threats" as one of the services that cannot be provided efficiently by any other organization.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Taking care of its citizens: Provide health care, education, shelter and sustenance for those who cannot buy it for themselves due to being ill, too old, too young, out of work but actively looking.
Provide stuff that you don't want citizens to take care of themselves: A good working justice force.
Organize the country the way you would a family, not a business.

[Megamieuwsel]

Organize the country the way you would a family, not a business.

Says the one that fell out of the frying pan, into the fire....


...althoug I have to admit, the grease in the frying-pan is rather rancid...

[Cat of Ulthar]

Says the one that fell out of the frying pan, into the fire....


...althoug I have to admit, the grease in the frying-pan is rather rancid...

Mmmm. I've been thinking about starting a Britain vs. Netherlands thread...

[Lmik]

I was going to put in a long diatribe on the purpose and responsibilities of government but Cat of Ulthar has managed to say it all really quickly and neatly - Wow it almost brings a tear to my eye.

[Varaj]

Taking care of its citizens: Provide health care, education, shelter and sustenance for those who cannot buy it for themselves due to being ill, too old, too young, out of work but actively looking.
Provide stuff that you don't want citizens to take care of themselves: A good working justice force.
Organize the country the way you would a family, not a business.

Gut reaction to this is pretty negative but I may not be understanding what you mean. Are you saying you want government to be the parent to its citizens?

[Cat of Ulthar]

Gut reaction to this is pretty negative but I may not be understanding what you mean. Are you saying you want government to be the parent to its citizens?

Not a parent, but a force that protects its people when they need it. People should be encouraged to take care of themselves, but when they cannot, they need to be taken care of by their government, not left to perish or suffer. I believe everyone is entitled to an amount of education, to medical care when they suffer, to food and shelter if they cannot provide so for themselves, to protection from criminals and other forces that would hurt them (abusive spouses, mad dogs).

So what I meant by my last statement (family, not business) is that a government should also care for its people when they are not or no longer able to be of use to the government.

[Varaj]

Not a parent, but a force that protects its people when they need it. People should be encouraged to take care of themselves, but when they cannot, they need to be taken care of by their government, not left to perish or suffer. I believe everyone is entitled to an amount of education, to medical care when they suffer, to food and shelter if they cannot provide so for themselves, to protection from criminals and other forces that would hurt them (abusive spouses, mad dogs).

So what I meant by my last statement (family, not business) is that a government should also care for its people when they are not or no longer able to be of use to the government.

Ahh cool, thanks for the clarification.

[Lmik]

Civilisation is judged on how it treats the most vulnerable of its citizens.

[Megamieuwsel]

Mmmm. I've been thinking about starting a Britain vs. Netherlands thread...

Lessee....
GB: Run by slobbering Bush-lapdogs.
NL: Run by slobbering Bush-lapdogs.

GB: Mushroom Pie !1!
NL: Poffertjes met Appelstroop !1!

GB: London; A stenching Hell-Hole.
NL: Amsterdam; A stenching Hell-Hole.

etc. etc. ad nauseum...

At least GB has Stonehenge...

[Limper]

For me the number one thing should be to protect me from others.The secondary purpose is provide services that cannot be provided efficiently by any other orginization.

Stay out of the way and do what it does efficiently.

Add that line and I think we are on the same page.

The European stances taken in this post scare the shit out of me. I can't believe anyone would want that much interaction with their government.

[Name Lips]

The purpose of government is to provide an environment within which its people can thrive.

[Limper]

The purpose of government is to provide an environment within which its people can thrive.

I'd agree with that line as well but when it comes to the details and intentions of what you say I'm positive we'd disagree.

[Name Lips]

I'd agree with that line as well but when it comes to the details and intentions of what you say I'm positive we'd disagree.

Most assuredly. :D I chose the most generic definition I could.

I'd extend this to state that if people are doing their best, and not thriving, then the government is doing something wrong.

And I'm betting now we have a debate going...

[Limper]

Most assuredly. :D I chose the most generic definition I could.

I'd extend this to state that if people are doing their best, and not thriving, then the government is doing something wrong.

And I'm betting now we have a debate going...


I'm also betting we've already had this debate a few times.