The Purpose of Government

My last entry said that government should purpose itself to protection of its citizenry. Well, I’ve now decided that this idea leads to a welfare state with institutionalized dependence. Check Asimov for an ideal case of the beneficent government made possible through science (a stagnant nightmare, and this when the rulers act benevolent). No, too much damage can be done in the name of protection to have such a statement written in the constitution. In fact, I now wonder whether the idea of a few laws set in stone forms a good basis for government at all, what with the plasticity of spoken language, and the warping of propaganda fueled by short idealistic quips. (see the New Deal of F.D.R., which promised to feed, house, and clothe everybody, but ignored at whose expense; or the reversal of the word ‘pirate’ promulgated by publishing houses; or Asimov on how a finite number of laws can never cover all situations (incompleteness)).

Apparently, designing a government remains a much more difficult task than I at first assumed.