it is the nature of totalitarianism not to involve the citizens in the decision. but without the concept of the people govt must rely on brute force to retain control.
that hasnt always worked out so well for the rulers.
What is the purpose of government?
- Thread starter BidenPresident
- Start date
it is the nature of totalitarianism not to involve the citizens in the decision. but without the concept of the people govt must rely on brute force to retain control.
that hasnt always worked out so well for the rulers.
BidenPresident
Verified User
I still don't see how the people formulate a common purpose.
T. A. Gardner
Thread Killer
To do only those things the people cannot do for themselves and only with consent of the governed.
BidenPresident
Verified User
Government is just something useful.
you have to allow for changes over time so a very specific thing would not work well in the long term.
the Italians valued trains running on time so Il Duce found a way to make it work. For a little while.
things have a way of evening themselves out over time.
BidenPresident
Verified User
Makes is seem like government is arbitrary with no purpose.
thats pretty easy as they've had tens of thousands of years to noodle it out.
safety
liberty
prosperity
BidenPresident
Verified User
Compatible with fascism. Or totalitarianism.
T. A. Gardner
Thread Killer
And like many things, it should be used in moderation.
you seek to give it a purpose that it has no mandate for apart from one of the ancients.
in even simpler terms and ones that predate the ancients, its insuring that right and wrong are the basic framework for society.
those two are incompatible with liberty.
it is necessary.
there can be no trade without trade agreements.
failure to provide a defense risks loss of the country itself.
If that's what the governed want, why shouldn't their government be whatever they want it to be?
BidenPresident
Verified User
Making people good. Do you object?
Exactly. That's why our constitution limits the government, not the governed.
BidenPresident
Verified User
All totalitarian states believe they are giving freedom and security.
Who decides what is right and wrong?
But not liberty. Maybe some people don't want what we call "liberty". They can form a government that suits their needs. Nation-building and exporting "democracy" hasn't worked very well, has it?
yes.
govt is not capable of making people good.
it can punish people for being bad (breaking laws) and this sometimes provides deterrent to being bad but it does not make people good.
they claim it, that is not the same as doing it.