1. Protect our freedoms, natural rights, and civil liberties.

Aristotle (the, ahem, greatest thinker in the history mankind) would disagree. He would say that the purpose of government is to...

2. Help the populace live as best, honorable, valuable, good, happy lives as possible.

Now, after having studied him, I can't say I disagree.

I'll give you an example. Many would say, the government shouldnt do public schools. But schooling leads to better lives, no one would really argue that. So, the government has a stake in the education of citizens.

This can be taken further. Should public schools have classes that don't just teach history, math, and science. Should they also teaches personal finances, relationship (all sorts of it), life, death, family, and yes, sex. Teaching these things to students would give them a better life. So the government would have a stake.

On a side note, lol, some would say schools should only teach the generic classes, not the more social'life ones. But, when you think about it, why do we learn math, history, literature, and science? Go through each one.

Math - After the basics (+, -, /, *) it teaches our mind to work better. Math has a tremendous effect on how the brain works.

History - Knowledge of history can be used in every sort of possible situation and enviroment. Furthermore, we are taught valuable lessons and real examples of so many possible things to happen in life.

English - We learn to read and write. What else is more important career wise?

Literature - We don't learn the style of writing in the Catcher in the Rye. We study the situations and experiences of its characters. They're life lessons. I mean, Shakespeare is the greatest because he touches on every freaggin aspect of life.

Science - Learning the basics of the how the world works helps us to survive a little bit better. Knowing what those roots are, why I have a heart, and what bones are, are very valuable information.

Of course I'm not 100% correct on every explanation. But, I think I touched upon it pretty well.

If one will say classes that teaches relationship, life, etc. should be only done by parents, why not have them teach math and history too?

80% of adults say schools don't teach them enough of what they need to know. So why have them there in the first place?

I went off on a tangent there, but I just wanted to get some thoughts out in the open.