What governments should and should not do
Should:
Fundamental Things Most People Expect The Government To Do
The fundamental idea of what government should do for all people in the country is in the answer to the question: why it is (or is it??) better for people to live in society altogether, or, in another word, what are the benefits of being part of the community.
One of the aims of our lives is to live a life of happiness and prosperity and self-development. This basically means that everybody should do what they were born to do. Meanwhile, the government is, just by definition, the system or form by which a community is ruled. So the government is supposed to be somehow useful for people (at least, in the ideal world).
In ancient times people understood the necessity of having the wisest and the greatest people as a Council to make key decisions concerning everybody's lives.
Those people were not empowered for nothing: they were given a privileged position in society, honour and respect.
This approach has been proven effective since then.
So what can we legitimately expect to get from the government? What should it do?
Just as an example:
- Infrastructure — things like roads, utilities, courts, schools, a financial system, and registration of property
- Protection against violence and crime — the police and the military
- Help for citizens when they are unable to help themselves (organize health care)
And more:
public education (schools/universities) should be available to every child or student;
organize public transport;
regulations preventing the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors;
fair federal laws execution;
Creating jobs/Reducing unemployment
Securing the borders/Addressing immigration issue
Focus more on the country’s problems/people’s problems
Improve the economy
Balance the budget/Limit spending
Make infrastructure improvements
Expand healthcare coverage
Cut taxes
Improve education
Protect the environment/Address climate change
Help small businesses
improve the Social Security system
Help the elderly
However, we all know that being empowered means the responsibility that attaches to that position. It is easy to cross the line, especially for human beings who are known to be imperfect.
Should not:
Invade one's private life
Getting involved in matters of religion, morality
Pretend that there is no devastating social differentiation in our society
Steal elections, throw political opponents in jail
Be greedy, corrupt, or even criminal
Getting involved in other country’s affairs
Too much regulation (non-specific)
Be at the same position forever
Apparently, the question was which things have a government to ban / to allow.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/143627/federal-government-doing-not-doing-pdf.aspx