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WHAT IS the purpose of government, anyway?

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by billwald, Feb 1, 2011.

  1. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    What is the purpose of government? Is it not to provide a stable and safe environment for the people living under it?
     
  2. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    To be, at best, a necessary evil.
     
  3. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    1. To protect citizens from other
    2. To provide services for the common welfare
    ie roads, Post Office, ect
    3.

    I want to mention a couple of other things, but I am muilti taksing at the monent - will get back
     
  4. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    To estalish justice
    To insure domestic tranquility
    To provide for the common defence
    To promote the general welfare
    To secure the blessings of liberty
     
  5. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    The last one encompasses it all.
     
  6. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    I agree 100%!
     
  7. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    I like the whole package. I think each is contingent on the other. That was a pretty sharp bunch of guys.

    I do like the liberty bit - to secure the blessings of liberty, for all. Even those we disagree with.
     
  8. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    I gotta take one from you.......

    To promote the general welfare

    Too vague, open to endless litigation. It can't help but become provide the general welfare.
     
  9. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    You're not taking it from me, but a bunch of guys a lot brighter than me :).
     
  10. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Government is to punish the evildoer and praise those who do well, 1 Pet. 2:14.
     
  11. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Yeah, I thought of that. That one has bitten us.
     
  12. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    "Welfare" did not mean charity or mercy. Still doesn't. The problem is that we've allowed socialists to use the term as a cloak for their theft.
     
  13. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    >To insure domestic tranquility

    History indicates that domestic tranquility deteriorates as income disparity between the working class and the ruling class increases. The French Revolution, for example. And the Russian Revolution.
     
  14. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    That's just Marxist vomit. The reason for domestic unrest is injustice. That's what brought about the Civil War, and that's what spurred 26 states to bring the federal government into court.
     
  15. Dragoon68

    Dragoon68 Active Member

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    This is, as we all know, from the preamble of the US constitution. Taken out of context one could deduce that these are things the federal government alone is suppose to do for us. Taken in context it can be seen that it does include things our federal government has been permitted by the people and the States to do but also includes what the people reserved to do for themselves and through their State government. The success of attaining and maintaining these goals rest on that principal and not upon a benevolent Uncle Sam who provides everyone with everything everywhere all the time. It should also be noted that the authors wrote this document not only for themselves but for their posterity as well. That means, if we want it to last as they did, we'd better manage it very carefully and within our means - a lot better than we have been in recent generations.
     
  16. Dragoon68

    Dragoon68 Active Member

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    It is around this principal that our government was established and, if we want it to work long term, we'd better get back to it and stick to it. Punishing the evildoer and praising those who do well discourages the temptation to do evil or to seek justice for one's self and encourages one to do what is right. God knows best what we need!
     
  17. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    U.S. Constitution:

    The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
     
  18. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    The Preamble to the Constitution:

    [SIZE=+1]We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [/SIZE]
     
  19. David Lamb

    David Lamb Active Member

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    Bill, did you mean government generally, or (as most replies on this thread seem to have taken it), the government of the United States specifically?
     
  20. hillclimber1

    hillclimber1 Active Member
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    This nations constitution was written for a Christian nation, and is unsuitable for any other..
     
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