The Purpose of Government

Its funny how often people forget the reason they have something, or the reason they do something. It's like traveling to a location, and then forgetting where you are going on the road. You inevitably begin to wander around. Without a destination, you are bound to get lost. What's the purpose of government? Its sad how rarely we ask ourselves this important question. After all, how can we steer the government with our vote if we are not sure what direction we want it to go? How can we know if it has made a wrong turn?

Particular policies is not what I mean here. I know that foreign policy is important to people, or taxes, or the environment..... but these are waypoints, not destinations. At least not in the way I mean the question. I don't mean, "What ought the government be doing?" -- I mean why is it there? What is it for?

Many men have come up with many answers to this question. Some have thought of government like a service buisness. Someone to be responsible for the services we cannot provide ourselves. Like the post office, or building roads. Others have thought of the government as a good neighbor. Someone who will watch out for you. Someone who will help you out, and know what you need. Maybe help you find a job, and help you pay your bills until you find one. Others see government as an instrument for personal gain -- maybe like a fat government contract for your business. Or even a way to make sure that football games are on free television. So, what would you say?

I think, and have thought for a while now, that I'll pick the answer that the Declaration of Independence gives. Government exists to secure and protect the rights of its people. If its been a while since you've read it, you should go back and read it again. Here's the first two paragraphs, which clearly answers that question of governments purpose:

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have them connected with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the seperation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed......"

The American Government was established on the belief that all men are equal and posses certain rights that are theirs without condition by nature, and that government is established by people to protect, or "secure" these rights. These individual rights are not moral rights, nor are they cultural rights, but inherent ones. The purpose of government is to protect them.