Why am I writing this when I should be writing my term paper?

This is quoted verbatim from my response to a Debate and Discussion thread on SA. A poll queried users as to their opinion of what the State's primary interest should be. The options and poll results at the time of this posting were as follows: Liberty (40%), Justice (18%), Equality (5%), Protection (11%), Social Security (8%), Economic (8%), Scientific (8%), and Other [tended to just be "all of them are important] (2%), with 361 votes. I was astonished and somewhat sad that the forums population (which tends to be liberal, intelligent, and progressive-minded) seemed to think so poorly of the concept of liberty. Perhaps it is merely outmodish:

Far too many people seem to have the conception that the government is an entity that exists to rule the people or otherwise further its own interests as a nation. This is foolhardy to the point of ignorance. A government whose main concern is the economy or science views its citizens as mere pawns to be used for the interests of this nebulous "greater good". A nation whose focus is protection is nothing more than a police state, focused on maintaining the power of the government despite the will of its people. A state that promotes justice, equality, or social security above all else is overly concerned in controlling its subjects and their actions, leading to the establishment of a "Father Know's Best" state that acts without regard to the desires of the people.

ANY government that believes itself to be superior to, and innately more wise than, the people it represents (by viewing the promotion of the products of society as more important than society itself) is doomed to collapse or some form of totalitarianism; both of which violate the basic tenant of government: to represent the people.

Liberty should be the foremost concern of any well-functioning government; insofar as assuring that its citizens are guaranteed the fullest degree of liberty possible without violating the freedoms of others (technically only other citizens). This is a never-ending process, as new technologies and events tend to infringe upon the civil liberties of those the government represents, and it is the responsibility of those in the government to uphold those liberties in the face of tyranny - and to trust in the capabilities of its free citizens to develop the economic, scientific, etc. abilities of said nation in their own interests for the betterment of society.

Any government that does not do this does not deserve the respect or support of its citizens.