Throughout United States history, there has always been a debate about the powers of government versus the?

Question

liberty of the people. At the time the nation was founded, Thomas Paine, an agitator for the American Revolution, wrote: “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” Nearly two hundred years later, President Ronald Reagan echoed similar words, stating “…man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.” Do you agree with Paine and Reagan? Why or why not? Do you believe that government is inherently opposed to liberty, or is government actually the protector of liberty?

Answer 1

Let me get this straight. You want less government. But when the levy breaks you want the government to fix everything in one day or less. And then get the heck out of dodge. You want

the military to protect you and b**ch when somebody gets killed. This is a no win situation.

Answer 2

There are 2 schools of thought, in this country, which are diametrically opposed to one another.

One group, which has formed a political p[arty, believes that the people should be free to run their own lives and that Government's function is to provide those services set forth in the Constitution and no others. Tjhey believe that the government should provide protection for the people so that the people can live their lives and go about their business.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The other group, which too has formed a political party, believes that the people are unable to make the decisions concerning their lives and welfare and believes that Government should control most of the facets of our lives for our own good. This is the party which thinks BIG government is better.

I go with the first party every time.

I think Reagan and Paine had it right.

That is why America is still a great country.

Answer 3

Yes I agree.

The government should only do the things that are specifically spelled out in the constitution.

They should only defend Individuals rights to Life, Liberty, and Property.

Answer 4

Government, while a necessary evil, is a concentration of power.  Power corrupts.  QED

Answer 5

i believe that "big brother" has made so many people dependant solely on them that it is not so much a matter of agreement or disagreement, but rather a matter of how could we fix it, even with armed revolution, these days, many of the people will wonder when and how "big brother" is going to solve any problems that arise.

look at the results of katrina, most everybody left down there sat on their thumbs and asked, where is the government? where is the help. with one hand we beg for government to do for us, and with the other we punch them in the face because they "go too far"

until the vast majority, (roughly 80 to 90%) of our population starts taking responsibility for themselves, and i do realize that 90% of our nations isn't like that, so don't hang me yet, but until the majority stop relying on big brother to solve their problems, it doesn't matter whether we like it, or agree with it, whether we like or agree with who we get in office, or on the senate, or in our own local governments because whatever decisions those people whom we elect make, a large portion of the U.S. will just nod their heads and go along with it.

what we have is a closet tyranny, where corruption manifests itself in all corners of our political structure.

a very few similar nations in human history come to mind right now

Answer 6

The American government accepts no responsability for there flaws.

"Corner Us" and we will drop another bomb , without regard to innocent civilian life, just as we did on Japan.

We have terrorised others long enough, now we are not prepaired for our next war..............An Economical one.............And based on our prior actions , we deserve everything we are going to get (or don't get).