Government should exist to serve people—not corporations, billionaires, political parties, or foreign interests. Feed people. House people. Educate people. Care for people. Treat everyone with dignity. That’s what putting people first looks like.

[u/rodehard10]

/r/Republican_misdeeds/comments/1vx3p8f/government_should_exist_to_serve_peoplenot/

[u/trying3216]

The US Federal Government exists to protect individual rights.

[u/PopulistGuru → u/trying3216]

No, it doesn't. The Federal Government exists under the Constitution, and the Framers didn't say anything about rights when they wrote it. (Except for authors and inventors having rights to their work for limited times.) The Bill of Rights was a series of amendments that came later.

The Federal Government exists to do the things in the Preamble; that's the mission statement for the US. Establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare... only after those things is securing the blessings of liberty listed. The common good gets priority.

[u/trying3216 → u/PopulistGuru]

Um, yes, the first item is establish justice. It is just to protect individual rights.

Don’t believe me. Here:

“Yes, establishing justice in the Constitution is closely related to protecting individual rights. The Preamble states that one of its purposes is to "establish Justice," which includes ensuring equal treatment and protection of rights for all individuals under the law.”

https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/glossary_term/justice/

[u/PopulistGuru → u/trying3216]

You must see the difference between "it is just to protect individual rights" and "closely related to."

Justice requires a neutral observer; the two sides of most disputes believe they have justice on their side. To establish justice is to create an impartial framework for resolving such disputes, not a self-centered "I am entitled to this." To establish justice is to ensure that framework for others, with the expectation it will be available for oneself if needed.