Since governments are instituted by the people, and derive all of their power from the people--they can never LEGITIMATELY assume or exercise any power that could not reasonably and morally be exercised by any individual living without government.
I think they can and they do, though it's legitimacy must be questioned! Poor people are taxed at a greater %age of expendible income than the rich, Fixed penalty fines are more of a burden to the poor than the rich, hell i've seen people in prison for carrying what was effectively a weeks supply of cannibis to me! Governments lie to get into power, then lie to remain there, and lie to implement laws that in all reality the people neither want nor need! Unfortunately the people (here especially) are so damned dozy they just keep on going to work, work harder and harder throughout their life often earning less than when they started work 45 odd years previously, yet being Taxed more, fined more, and because most of them have built up some sort of "Home Comfort", have more to lose so complain less.
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Re: On the proper role of government
Date: 4/11/10 10:41 (UTC)I think they can and they do, though it's legitimacy must be questioned! Poor people are taxed at a greater %age of expendible income than the rich, Fixed penalty fines are more of a burden to the poor than the rich, hell i've seen people in prison for carrying what was effectively a weeks supply of cannibis to me! Governments lie to get into power, then lie to remain there, and lie to implement laws that in all reality the people neither want nor need! Unfortunately the people (here especially) are so damned dozy they just keep on going to work, work harder and harder throughout their life often earning less than when they started work 45 odd years previously, yet being Taxed more, fined more, and because most of them have built up some sort of "Home Comfort", have more to lose so complain less.