What, in your opinion, is the purpose of a government?

"...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..." - Thomas Jefferson

Good words, then and now. Government is there to do the things for us as a People that we can't do individually for ourselves or locally as a community. I can't fight off an invading army, so my government takes care of that for me. I can't section off and preserve national treasures like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, so the government does that.

Of course, I can do my part. I can earn enough money to pay my bills, provide for the needs of my family, and save a little for a rainy day. I should be in charge of that, not the government. I can afford to provide my own health insurance, so the government ought not be involved in it. I can decide who I want to marry, so the government shouldn't influence me.

Bottom line? The government should do what it MUST to make sure society continues to be able to prosper to the ability of its people, and NOTHING more.

Government is a human idea created by greedy people who are power hungry.

US government should provide only the things citizens cannot provide for themselves.

To define justice, and try to ensure that justice will be done.