Should governments protect us from ourselves?

i for one believe the roll of government should be minimal. protect us, creat a basic infastructor, collect revenue to support the nation and create an envronment that a person can be successful in. this means to me, minimal regiulation, minimal taxation. when you depend on government for everything they have you right where they want you. and the more government does for us, the more it costs us in taxes and freedoms

It's one thing for government to come barging in to all kinds of private matters. But I think government by it's very nature is about telling us what we can and can't do. We've seen time and again that people very quickly begin hurting themselves and others in the absence of government. Government has a responsibilty to protect the people from their enemies, to protect and provide for the public health, and to make judgements between competeing parties to resolve disputes. We should be free outside of these, but there is SOOOOOOOOOO much that this covers that government can take it pretty much whereever they want.

I agree with you. I do NOT want the Government telling me what I can do and what I can't do. Or what I can spend my money on and what I can't spend my money on. Our rights are being taken away day by day and some people just don't see this. We need to stand up and be heard. Not sit by and let it happen. Lilac54

Absolutely, because we the people are just too dang dumb to think for ourselves. We are so dumb that we can't be trusted to make everyday decisions for ourselves. We are too dumb to know better than to play in traffic. We are not responsible enough to handle the demands of everyday decision making for ourselves, and we need constant hand holding and supervision lest we offend someone else. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it. Maybe so, but there are actually people who truly believe that. I on the other hand, am quite capable of handling my own affairs, and have been doing so for quite some time now. If I want to smoke, drink, and eat junk food, then that is my business, and I take full responsibility for it. I fully resent anyone who thinks they know what's in my best interest, especially when I don't agree with them. If you don't like my smoke, then stay the hell away from me! Who told anyone to come over here anyway? The same goes for what I drink and eat. If it offends you, then keep quite lest I hear you and take immediate action. The government has trouble taking care of the affairs of state, let alone the affairs of individuals. I am more qualified to make decisions for myself than any government lackey, and that goes for state government as well as the feds. What governments should do is just not worry so much about my personal choices. Worry instead about the choices they make in the name of the people. Pardon me while I light another...:-)