[Moneyguy1]

Basic reasons for government include providing those services that the individual is unable or unwilling to provide for itself; security in the form of some kind of defense system, protection for all members against abuse by others (law enforcement), and the like. This applies to all levels of government, within reason.

Unfortunately, government has morphed into a "big brother" (big bother?) who makes decisions for all of us, and for the most part, we accept this as the good little automotons we have been trained as.

Little by little, individual freedoms are disappearing (in the name of national security) and we seem willing to simply let this happen, thinking these changes make us "safer".

Funding provided by the federal government for local projects is used sometimes as a weapon, ensuring that the locals follow the desires of Washington. Elected officials are answerable to the public inversely to the distance from the public (locals catch the most hell and are the most accountable, Congress and the President the least accountable).

The system becomes more Machivillian and no one seems to notice.