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.

Every individual has inalienable rights of life, liberty and property. The only legitimate function of government is to protect those rights.

The function of government is whatever the masses that control that government say it is. Period.

The masses that control the government? LOL. The masses are the ones being controlled, they are just too stupid to know the difference. After all, there is a reality show on tonight they are much more interested in. As long as they have the illusion that Republicrat 1 is different from Republicrat 2 they will remain sheep. Which, of course, is just how the Republicrats want it.

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Yes, because, as everyone knows, if they dont agree with stekim, that must mean they are being controlled.

Whats your alternative to letting people vote stekim?

When did I say people should not be allowed to vote?

Above post is example 5,000 of you not comprehending a post written in plain English and/or making an illogical inference.

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But, where is it written that we have these rights? Based on what do we have rights? Says who? If I say people dont have natural rights, who's to say that we do? I mean, how can it really be proven? Isnt this just another one of those things people say all the time, but there is really no solid basis for it (I'm playing the devil's advocate).

In order for a society to function for any length of time the rights mentioned by Merlin are absolutely necessary. If you claim people do not have any right to life, liberty and property you end up with sub-saharan Africa. Certainly not any place you would want to be.

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When you implied that they were being "controlled"; even though they can vote for whoever they want.

So whats your alternative?

vote for who's on the ballot! Not for anyone they want. (In every place I am aware of write-ins do not count, even if they were to win). The primary issues are 1. Special interest money and 2. Ballot access. If we fix those issues first the people could actually have a say again. Right now they are simply choosing between two virtually identical candidates.

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