[Cacique]

I know more that you think. I am an individualist. However, the individual bears responsibility for his actions if he lives in a societal context. No society can be purely libertarian. There are always collective responsibilities of citizens in an organized society. Paying taxes, obeying laws, serving in defense of one's country etc.. The state exists to serve society first, then the indivdual, in that order. A state that would pander to every whim of individuals and allow total freedom of individuals to do whatever they wanted is not a state, or rather is a state of anarchy. If you wish to live in total freedom and bear no repsonsibility for your actions move to a deserted island away from civilisation.

[Petronski]

The state exists to serve society first, then the indivdual, in that order.

Jawohl, Herr Doktor!

[tortoise]

The state exists to serve society first, then the indivdual, in that order.

Society is nothing more than the sum of the individuals contained within it. Therefore, the state ALWAYS serves individuals, though not always the individuals it claims to be serving.

Anyone who claims to be using the state to serve society is merely attempting to obfuscate which individuals it is that the state is ultimately serving.

[steve-b]

The state exists to serve society first, then the indivdual, in that order.