The role of government- episode 1

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I am starting this blog as my frustration with politics grows. I don't know what to label political views only to say I believe a small government is best. While we all understand that the role of government and our disagreements about it are the basis for most political debates most don't explicitly state their opinions on precisely what the role of government should be at n any country. So here is what I believe and in future points I will tie my opinions back to these points.

The role of government

• National defense

• Domestic peacekeeping

• Protection of the common good

• (air, water, things an individual can't practically possess)

• Protection of private property

• Enforcement of contract law

That's it, the list is rather short but what does it really mean? Let's break it down.

National Defense

Very simply put a government should protect citizens from invaders and return fire or strike back when attacked. An attack on an embassy is an attack on a country but an attack on a corporation or prohibition of trading opportunities in another country due to laws passed is not an attack. Using this logic most of what the US justifies as "national security" in the Middle East, South America and Africa, where they go after foreign national resources and "protecting national interests" or US corporate market share.

Domestic Peacekeeping

This domestic function is to keep domestic peace, local police forces and investigation services preventing murders, assaults, fraud, etc.

Protection of the common good

For goods that can't practically be possessed by any individual such a rivers, oceans, the air we breathe and even noise produced the government needs to be the arbitrating force to ensure all citizens are able to benefits from the common goods and none are unduly disadvantaged. Environmental protection is important yet the goal isn't to prevent human impact on nature but to ensure that all citizen can equally benefit from the environment and it will be around for future generations of citizens to benefit from in the future. If you own land next to a river and you use that river to farm fish you should expect that the water is clean enough in the future for future generations to farm fish as well.

Protection of private property

This is quite simple, protection of possessions and real estate owned by private citizens. Domestic police to investigate and prevent theft and other forms of infringement on private property rights. Zoning laws are nonsense when you consider protection of the common good and peace and quiet being a common good.

Enforcement of contact law

Fraud and breaking commitments need to have consequences in order for business to flourish. The government need only provide business owners with the confidence that commitments will be enforced and fraud will be punished.