NationStates Jolt Archive

From social programs to maintaining the army to enforcing morality, there are so many things people would like the government to be responsible for. And then there are others who just want the government to stay out, completely.

so, what would be the functions of a government in your ideal state?

and what would be the functions of the government that you'd be satisfied with (meaning not ideal, but something you'd be willing to compromise on; realism and stuff like such)

I'll post mine later.

Anarchists... screw you guys. ;)

National Defense, and highway maintenance. Perhaps public executions, but I'll settle for the first two.

The government is elected by the people, to be the servant of the people,to organise and provide everything that the individual cannot: transport infrastructure, energy supplies, national defence, and so forth; to enforce the values of the majority - that is, uphold the rule of law, and legislate when necessary to change it - and thus to act as a catalyst to positive change in society; to protect the weak, the vulnerable, and the unfortunate, and generally to keep the shop together and running smoothly; and all of this with minimum interference in the lives of the populace, whilst remembering that the government belongs to the people, not the other way around.

My government would built roads and declare them public land for trade and travel.

They would send out policemen and soldiers to defend against crime and invasion. They would provide courts of law in which citizens could settle disputes and in which criminals could be tried. There would be basic prisons, in which criminals would reside until they were able to repay the victims of whatever crime they commited.

That's about it.

Sort and sweet: Protecting its citizens from force and fraud.

That's it.

Anarchists... screw you guys. ;)
Ooh, really?
Thanks!

The federal government would do nothing but maintain a foreign policy, a military, police forces, and the courts. Everything else would be either private, or run by states, though preferably in private hands.

The government is elected by the people, to be the servant of the people,to organise and provide everything that the individual cannot: transport infrastructure, energy supplies, national defence, and so forth; to enforce the values of the majority - that is, uphold the rule of law, and legislate when necessary to change it - and thus to act as a catalyst to positive change in society; to protect the weak, the vulnerable, and the unfortunate, and generally to keep the shop together and running smoothly; and all of this with minimum interference in the lives of the populace, whilst remembering that the government belongs to the people, not the other way around.
Great minds think alike. I was going to list exactly the same things as Cambridge Major.

Prevent the initiation of force or fraud against its citizens, and mantain the military, police, and infrastructure . . .

There will be no need for any government in a true Communist society which I support and all people will communally run society in the interests of everyone without interference from any state.

Eat, breath, Reproduce, Work, Play, Study, Laugh, Cry etc.
My ideal state is a direct democracy. i.e the government is the people.

I would abolish the government. It is a useless and violent institution.

I would abolish the government. It is a useless and violent institution.

By abolishing the useless and violent institution, humanity would descend into a useless and violent rape, pillage and burn-fest.

military,social security.infrastructure, arms manufacturing,healthcare,law enforcement,education, post secoundary education

should all be taken care of by the goverment.

By abolishing the useless and violent institution, humanity would descend into a useless and violent rape, pillage and burn-fest.

Sure, just like how they used to say monarchy was necessary. :rolleyes:

so, what would be the functions of a government in your ideal state?

and what would be the functions of the government that you'd be satisfied with (meaning not ideal, but something you'd be willing to compromise on; realism and stuff like such)
social welfare & focus on redistributional economics (equality). protect rights of the individual. the government's primary function might be education, though encouragement of technology would be good too.