The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.

Sure there are dishonest men in local government. But there are dishonest men in national government too.

Obama is trying to paint us as a caricature, as if we're some bizarre individualists who are hardcore libertarians. It's a false dichotomy and intellectually lazy. Of course we believe in government. We think government should do what it does really well, but that it has limits.

The people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.

It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals. But, there is no alternative to the state.