re: #191 Sharmuta

Government’s first priority is to protect and defend the citizenry. To me, this includes protecting the citizens as best as possible from the ravages of nature, whether it’s a volcano, tornado, hurricane, etc.

You haven’t identified what government should defend its citizens from and the principle that makes it true. Should it protect us from cigarette smoke or trans-fatty food or excessively large toilet bowls or “hate speech”? Should it protect certain groups from insults to their religion? Do you recognize a unifying principle that can be applied to distinguish legitimate formas of protection from illegitimate ones or do you just wing it on feelings and folksy bromides?