What is the Governments Purpose?

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This is taken from Barrack Obama's Inaugural Address this morning: "The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified."

That's not really my definition of a "working government." Not that a government can't do those things, but if I had to pick the top 3 things that a government is responsible I wouldn't have picked any of those.

4 comments:

shafnitz said...

Then what would you have picked? I would say it's purpose is to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I think his examples fall under the 3rd category.

Boz said...

I think there is a fine line between protecting life liberty and pursuit of happiness and trying to provide it.

I think a working government will:

1) Be free of corruption. Example. Brazil's government is not a working government.

2) Prevent people from taking away the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness from others.

3) Make a really good heavy metal version of the national anthem.

Luke Millar said...

I agree with what Boz just said. "Pursuit of happiness" isn't guaranteed happiness, it's just the opportunity for you to go out and make your own happiness.

I would add to that list protect the country. Probably replace his 3rd responsibility with that one.

Greg MIllar said...

But the main purpose is to teach the citizens to use correct punctuation. An example of this would be: "What is the Government's Purpose?"

P.S. None of the examples fall under "pursuit of happiness", they would fall under "provide happiness". That is a huge distinction and is what divides the BIG GOVERNMENT fans and the limited government fans. BTW, the whole purpose of the constitution and the intent of the founders was to limit the government.

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