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What do you believe is the chief role of government?

What is the main role of government?

  • To uphold the constitution

    Votes: 30 56.6%
  • To keep America safe

    Votes: 4 7.5%
  • Other - please explain

    Votes: 19 35.8%

  • Total voters
    53
  • Poll closed .

Luke Skywalker

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It was asked in the debate last night: What is the chief role of government?

Obama said government's main role is to keep America safe...

Romney said government's #1 responsibility is to uphold the constitution.

I agree with Romney - Obama's answer (if you read between the lines) is based on giving the federal government more power and control.... The constitution is about giving more power and control to the people. After all, this is our country, not the politicians'... Obama failed the test, imo.

Anyway, what do you think?
 
In my personal opinion - to promote justice, security, and utility.
 
I tend to agree with upholding the constitution over "keeping the country safe", as the former indicates a perception that the role of government is in upholding laws which faciliate a free society, whereas the latter indicates a parental attitude toward the country. We really need a leader more than a parent.
 
To serve as a vehicle for improving society (which sometimes means taking action and sometimes means staying out).
 
Depends on what government you're talking about. The federal government? The chief role is contained in every oath taken for federal office, and Romney nailed it.
 
Depends on what government you're talking about. The federal government? The chief role is contained in every oath taken for federal office, and Romney nailed it.

The category of the question was "The Role of Government." Jim used those exact words - the specific question was "Do you believe there is a fundamental difference between the two of you as to how you view the mission of the federal government?" So, while I used the broader category for this thread, I was indeed talking about the federal government.

I go by memory recall from what I saw in the debates - I do that on purpose. Among other things, drawing on recall sharpens one's debating skills. In other words, I expect a few comments, checking the SPECIFICS of what I post... and I welcome that.

AND you are right - Romney nailed it. To be frank, I only recalled him mentioning the Constitution, not the Declaration of Independence. Absolutely those docs go hand in hand - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are basic human rights. And the constitution protects those rights.
 
I do not see the two as mutually exclusive. IF the president holds to his oath which is based on the constitution then he is doing both.
Preserve PROTECT and DEFEND....All enemies foriegn and domestic.

Yes?
 
The purpose of government was outlined in 1776:

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

The purpose of government is to secure our rights.
 
The purpose of government is to act on our behalf to do the things that require a larger scale or a more centralized approach than individual or state efforts can muster. Maintaining a military and normalizing weights, measures, and currency are examples. That is government's role. The constitution says how the government does this. Both candidates were wrong. Obama's answer was under-inclusive, and Romney's was backwards. The constitution is not an end unto itself. It is the method by which we pursue our goals.
 
To keep America safe and if necessary set up concentration camps, gas chambers, mass executions... Nah. Obviously, the answer is option one.
 
Obama said government's main role is to keep America safe...
It gave me zero warm fuzzies to hear the president say this. I couldn't help but think of I-Robot; where Sonny's synthetic buddies were activated and unleashed on the public.
 
I do not see the two as mutually exclusive. IF the president holds to his oath which is based on the constitution then he is doing both.
Preserve PROTECT and DEFEND....All enemies foriegn and domestic.

Yes?

When was the last time a president actually upheld the constitution? I can't think of when that was. Any help?
 
the chief role of government is to ensure that the structure upon which the country is grown stays well maintained and faithfully upgraded. i think of government as the tender and keeper of the grape arbor.
 
Uphold the Constitution and protect the border.

It is currently failing both.

The southern border is actually pushed back, in certain places (arizona) by 40km. From what I've read, there are signs put there by the local sheriffs that say that beyond that point, although it is american territory, the american government is not in control there. It is drug runner territory and a highway for illegals. So because the state of Arizona decided to protect their borders and do the Federal Government's job... the federal government, with Eric Holder as their main man, decided to sue Arizona for SB 1070... a bill taken carbon copy from the laws of the country with the addition that it is the state government who will uphold these responsabilities, not the federal. No way does it go against the federal government and deny its right, it just gives Arizona the right to post patrols on the border. So the US federal government decided to take the side of the mexican drug runners over their own citizens.

This may be the biggest legislative failure this government has ever made. And I am saying that despite being fully aware that there is a whole lot of competition for the biggest fail ever during the Obama administration.
 
When was the last time a president actually upheld the constitution? I can't think of when that was. Any help?
When Thomas Jefferson, whom the wannabe aristocracy kept out of the Constitutional Convention, held up this obstructive and undemocratic scribble in his hands and tossed it into the fireplace in order to unConstitutionally fast-track the Louisiana Purchase, which put America on the road to greatness.
 
Uphold the Constitution and protect the border.

It is currently failing both.

The southern border is actually pushed back, in certain places (arizona) by 40km. From what I've read, there are signs put there by the local sheriffs that say that beyond that point, although it is american territory, the american government is not in control there. It is drug runner territory and a highway for illegals. So because the state of Arizona decided to protect their borders and do the Federal Government's job... the federal government, with Eric Holder as their main man, decided to sue Arizona for SB 1070... a bill taken carbon copy from the laws of the country with the addition that it is the state government who will uphold these responsabilities, not the federal. No way does it go against the federal government and deny its right, it just gives Arizona the right to post patrols on the border. So the US federal government decided to take the side of the mexican drug runners over their own citizens.

This may be the biggest legislative failure this government has ever made. And I am saying that despite being fully aware that there is a whole lot of competition for the biggest fail ever during the Obama administration.

What I hate the most about that case is that they twisted John Jays words on their face and folded them over so many times in the defense of their case that when the supreme court found in favor of the federal government there its just more proof that the supreme court is nothing but a helper in the cause of the government power needs. I would like there to be a case for a change that went to the supreme court that wasn't corrupt in its ruling but that crap was even worse than calling forced commerce a tax.

Anyone that thinks we should be a country of laws and not of men was sickened by the Obama administrations using of John Jay for their case. It takes a nice big pile of **** to think you can have the position of Obama and use John Jay as a defense.
 
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What i hate the most about that case is that they twisted John Jays words on their face and folded them over so many times in the defense of their case that when the supreme court found in favor of the federal government there its just more proof that the supreme court is nothing but a helper in the cause of the government power needs.

Well what do you expect...

For the past year or so I have become more and more convinced that in order for the western republics to survive democratically, the electoral rights should be expanded. We should vote on most of the people in the government cabinet. We should vote on who should be prime minister (In Europe... there are countries in which the president is not the head of government, thus, the prime minister is appointed by the president). And vote on who the supreme justices should be (for both the states and the federal government), and the consitutional court. And they must not have tenure for life. But tenure for 1-2 years. But anyway, limited time. You may vote a jackass (i.e. elena kagan) to the Const. Court... but at least it won't be there for life.
 
Governments job I think is to provide the best possible environment for the county to grow, for it's people to prosper, and to keep them safe. This includes providing things such as education, affordable health care, transportation, an equal opportunity and a fair playing field.

On social issues the government should promote tolerance and equality, and protect it's citizens and their legal rights. The government should not try to tell it's citizens how to behave unless it is significantly harmful to others or extremely harmful to themselves.
 
Exactly as stated in the Declaration of Independence

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, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
 
Exactly as stated in the Declaration of Independence

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, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Hate to break this to yah buddy, but the deceleration of independence while a fantastic document, is not a governing document.
 
Hate to break this to yah buddy, but the deceleration of independence while a fantastic document, is not a governing document.

I'm not aware of anyone having claimed that it was. I certainly did not make any such claim.

It does, however, give an excellent, concise statement of of purpose of government.
 
It was asked in the debate last night: What is the chief role of government?

Obama said government's main role is to keep America safe...

Romney said government's #1 responsibility is to uphold the constitution.

I agree with Romney - Obama's answer (if you read between the lines) is based on giving the federal government more power and control.... The constitution is about giving more power and control to the people. After all, this is our country, not the politicians'... Obama failed the test, imo.

Anyway, what do you think?

Protect and proliferate our rights and liberties. Spluh.
 
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