Bob,

If it's a good government it's an organization that takes as much resources as it needs from its citizens to help its citizens in ways that volunteerism currently won't help with well enough.

So a good government takes as much as *it judges that it needs*, even when some citizens say that's too much. Correct?

And it does this *when it judges* that if it doesn't force something to happen, the thing won't happen. Correct?

And it will do this *when it judges* that the thing should happen, and is worth taking taxes for, even when some citizens say it isn't and don't want it. Correct?

And it will do all this even if it is unable to win arguments for its position against the best rival views (for example, mine. It never has to argue its position with me, or even try to, before taking my money). Correct?

In short, your position seems to be it's a good government *if it's right*. If it isn't mistaken. That position is a bit pointless. Everyone thinks they are correct.

-- Elliot Temple
http://www.curi.us/