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The Purpose of Governments?
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King Kandy
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The Purpose of Governments?

I became interested in this after another debate where I disagreed over what the ideal "purpose" of governments is. I think if we had a good communication on this, it could help us all understand where each other are coming from more clearly; often I think disagreements of whether a governments actions are good stem from a deeper disagreement on this issue.

For me, personally, I think the job of a government is to create the highest possible standard of living for it's citizens. A constitution's purpose is to decide the limits on what actions can be employed towards this goal, i.e. which freedoms can be limited, and which are inviolable.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 04:30 AM
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Tzeentch
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I would agree with that assessment.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 04:38 AM
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WanderingDroid
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Smaller Government FTW.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 05:46 AM
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King Kandy
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by WanderingDroid
Smaller Government FTW.

What do you see as the purpose? (I assume it's not "to be small")


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 05:54 AM
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WanderingDroid
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Well, the purpose is very obvious...you establish a social contract between yourself and the community. However, I don't think you would like the community telling how to run your business, buy a home, get a car, or spend your money. As a citizen you will abide but not be dictate...that's as simple as I can put it.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 05:57 AM
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King Kandy
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by WanderingDroid
Well, the purpose is very obvious...you establish a social contract between yourself and the community. However, I don't think you would like the community telling how to run your business, buy a home, get a car, or spend your money. As a citizen you will abide but not be dictate...that's as simple as I can put it.

But, what do we contract w/ the community for, like, for what purpose does the contract exist?


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 06:10 AM
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Lord Lucien
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Protection and administration.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 07:19 AM
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Bardock42
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by King Kandy
I became interested in this after another debate where I disagreed over what the ideal "purpose" of governments is. I think if we had a good communication on this, it could help us all understand where each other are coming from more clearly; often I think disagreements of whether a governments actions are good stem from a deeper disagreement on this issue.

For me, personally, I think the job of a government is to create the highest possible standard of living for it's citizens. A constitution's purpose is to decide the limits on what actions can be employed towards this goal, i.e. which freedoms can be limited, and which are inviolable.


I agree with that mostly. I guess I see freedom and security as a part of standard of living. The question just is how do you weigh these things.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 09:06 AM
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Liberator
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The purpose of Government is social control and, as was stated, administration.


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 08:47 PM
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Archaeopteryx
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The prevention of anarchy


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Old Post May 21st, 2011 11:31 PM
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Symmetric Chaos
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Exploitation of the strong.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 12:42 AM
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Bicnarok
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I think you have to differentiate between what the purpose of government should be and what it is.

Because lets face it, the goverments of today are lying, corrupt bunch of rip of artists with the gift of the gab.

Old Post May 22nd, 2011 07:40 AM
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dadudemon
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by Bicnarok
I think you have to differentiate between what the purpose of government should be and what it is.


Good point.


However, the thread is actually asking quite specifically what the purpose of the government is to you.

It is not asking what the purpose of your existing government is.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 07:54 AM
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Archaeopteryx
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Exploitation of the strong.


Then why do the "strong" (by that I assume you mean the rich) control the government in the US? The "strong" are hardly exploited here.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 05:09 PM
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Bardock42
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
Then why do the "strong" (by that I assume you mean the rich) control the government in the US? The "strong" are hardly exploited here.


He's doing his objectivist satire. It's been a while.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 05:23 PM
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ADarksideJedi
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by WanderingDroid
Smaller Government FTW.


I argee and less power as well.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 06:19 PM
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Archaeopteryx
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
I argee and less power as well.


I agree the government could be somewhat smaller. It has entire departments and numerous agencies that could and should be eliminated, or at least downsized.

But what do you mean by less power? And who gets said power? Elaborate please.


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Old Post May 22nd, 2011 10:33 PM
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Liberator
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quote: (post)
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
The prevention of anarchy


glares


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Old Post May 23rd, 2011 03:26 AM
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skekUng
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Re: The Purpose of Governments?

quote: (post)
Originally posted by King Kandy
I became interested in this after another debate where I disagreed over what the ideal "purpose" of governments is. I think if we had a good communication on this, it could help us all understand where each other are coming from more clearly; often I think disagreements of whether a governments actions are good stem from a deeper disagreement on this issue.

For me, personally, I think the job of a government is to create the highest possible standard of living for it's citizens. A constitution's purpose is to decide the limits on what actions can be employed towards this goal, i.e. which freedoms can be limited, and which are inviolable.


It's a great question; one that has been debated for thousands of years. Here in America we like to pretend we knew what it meant, despite the use of terms like more-perfect in the founding documents we like to wave in front of others to make ourselves feel superior and shame them all at the same time.

What ever definition is agreed upon by the majority in this thread, it does not have to mean that 1% deserves the finite resources and wealth of the other 99%. This is not to say that all people have to be equal in their desperation or oppulance; but that no one merrits desperation because of accident of birth or at the expense of theorhetical intellect and/or labor.

Old Post May 23rd, 2011 07:01 AM
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Bardock42
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Re: Re: The Purpose of Governments?

quote: (post)
Originally posted by skekUng
It's a great question; one that has been debated for thousands of years. Here in America we like to pretend we knew what it meant, despite the use of terms like more-perfect in the founding documents we like to wave in front of others to make ourselves feel superior and shame them all at the same time.

What ever definition is agreed upon by the majority in this thread, it does not have to mean that 1% deserves the finite resources and wealth of the other 99%. This is not to say that all people have to be equal in their desperation or oppulance; but that no one merrits desperation because of accident of birth or at the expense of theorhetical intellect and/or labor.


I do think it can mean the latter to some people (or at least be a result of their government), why would you exclude that definition categorically?


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