With great freedom comes greater responsibility.




How much responsibility should the "State" have. In what ways do you want your government to help you, your community, and your countrymen. Not counting the obvious protection against military invasion.

Do governments have a responsibility to prevent poverty?
Do governments have a responsibility to protect your liberties? and to what extent and cost?
Do governments have a responsibility to give you education, wellfare abd infrastructure?
Do governments have a responsibility to help the desperate in other nations?


What goes the government have a responsibility for, and to what extent does that reach?

If we are talking government in a non-specific sense, then to all of the above, no.

The state has or may have an Interest in all of the above, and thus may make efforts at any or all of them.

Any decent government that doesn't want to be overthrown at the earliest opportunity will make efforts to protect your liberties as they exist in your social structure. This can vary from wide ranging protections and remedies as in the US and possibly other modern countries, to mere making some effort to ensure you're not murdered by someone not granted that right by the government in the case of some dictatorships and/or feudal societies. The extent and cost of such protections depend on the societal standards, which may include expediency.

It's definitely in the state's interest to see to an adequate infrastructure or there will be economic slowdown or collapse, which does not bode well for the populace or the government. Likewise with education, at least in modern times. Both of these can be accomplished privately, but may be better addressed governmentally depending on the circumstances.

Iff the government is seen as too rich and powerful, it may become in its best interest for public relations purposes to make some efforts towards welfare (which paradoxically seems to lead to social decline), prevent poverty (which is jousting at windmills, since 'poverty' is relative and thus cannot be prevented), or help the desperate elsewhere (which seems senseless to me unless one has inclinations towards imperialism).

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Today's forecast: Government corruption.

Tomorrow's forecast: 100% chance of more 'politics as usual'

Maybe it's finally time to vote Libertarian