What is the purpose of government?
The primary purpose of government is to provide the structure for citizens to do what they desire and for those citizens to prosper.
Whether the government we speak of is national, state, or local, the primary purpose of any government is to provide the structure for citizens to flourish.
Main duties within this role are related to safety and security. The citizens should be able to rely on a basic level of safety. This includes military defense, border security, and other types of law enforcement. This includes health inspections such as the inspection of foods, drugs, and restaurants. Other safety areas which the government should manage include fire prevention, airline inspections, and cargo inspection.
The government must also provide the basic necessities for civilized living. These areas include: water (adequate supply, clean water), sewage treatment, and waste management. Without taking care of these basic necessities the citizens cannot prosper.
The government should also provide infrastructure or monitor infrastructure for business and communication. Specific topics in this area include: money (minting and printing money), roads, canals, energy, electrical power, postal service, and telecommunication services. These elements of infrastructure allow goods, services, and ideas to be exchanged. Such exchange of goods, services and ideas creates synergy which allows citizens to flourish.
Note that the private sector can provide some of these functions. However, if no private sector entity exists, and if the scope of the problem is larger than the family unit, then a government agency should be created to provide the service.
Each of these duties fall into the primary purpose of government, which is to provide an environment where the citizens can do as they wish and flourish as much as possible.
