Implications of the end of government

The end of government is the preservation of our rights. Some people agree with this, but argue that the government may take action or pass laws for the purpose of "benefitting society" also. They would say that the public school system, for example, is legitimate because education "benefits society."

The problem with this is that every time the government passes laws that are not to secure our rights, but simply to benefit society, our rights are infringed. In the example of the public school system, the government imposes a heavy tax to fund the schools. This abridges our right to the ownership of property - the government is taking our money without our consent. Rather than fulfilling its purpose of the preservation of our rights, the government is taking away our rights.

The government should stay strictly within its purpose. Therefore, the preservation of our rights - and not societal benefits - should back every law the government makes.

Note that when the government acts according to its purpose, society is benefitted. For example, the government has rightly passed laws banning murder, because murder deprives the victim of his right to life. Banning murder certainly benefits society; however, societal benefits are not and should be the sole backing behind this ban.