The difference between government and 'the people'

I like this quote, as it indicates a clear difference between government and 'the people.'

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer." ~ Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

Liberals often point to things that society does and - incorrectly - assume that because it exists in society, government should also do it. Additionally, they - wrongly - justify government acting simply because society has.

Society, culture, religion, etc... all teach us that it is proper, right, moral and desirable to help others in need. But because we can and should do so individually does not mean that government can and should do so as well.

In fact, as Paine indicates, it is a "calamity" when government does these things against our wishes using our own money to do so.

The same is true for infringements. We may expect individuals in society to infringe upon us, but government is supposed to protect our individual rights. Rather than protecting our rights, government, at all levels, seeks to take more from us under the guise of it being 'in our best interests' or for the 'greater good.' But that deliberately overlooks the fact that the greater good is necessarily served by all individuals doing what is in their individual good. And it is nothing but extreme arrogance for anyone in government to think they know what's best for us individually much less what's best for every single person either individually or collectively.

Sadly, too many people look to government as the solution, even when it means suffering its miseries.