[eleni121]

The "state" is nothing more and nothing less than a collection of individuals elected by their constituents - hopefully the more neocons the better.

[MayDay72]

'The "state" is nothing more and nothing less than a collection of individuals elected by their constituents...' -eleni121

...True...But 'promoting' your ideas by the use force and coercion isn't any more justified just because those ideas are supported by a democratically elected body...Hitler was elected by a democratic process...We have natural individual rights enshrined in the founding document of this country [the 'Declaration of Independence'] and limitations of the power and scope of the federal government enumerated in the 'Constitution' and its ammendments...Would a complete disarming [i.e. a ban on all firearms] of the American public be okay if it were democratically supported? Don't you think that some of our rights are 'inalienable' and should not be taken away simply by the whims of bureaucrats, politicians, or even the majority of the voting public? Using the powers of the state for your own ends may be justified...But you should always be wary that powers that you give [away] to the state now may be used by others against you later...

...Don't get me wrong...I do respect your wish to promote such things as morals and religious values...I just believe the the state is a poor tool to use for this purpose...It would be best to channel you resources into voluntary/private organizations [churches, private schools, non-governmental charities, etc.] for that purpose...These institutions would be much more efficient at these tasks anyway...

[NutCrackerBoy]

The "state" is nothing more and nothing less than a collection of individuals elected by their constituents - hopefully the more neocons the better.

I don't agree at all. The state is a contract between generations, past, present, and future. The elected representatives at any given time are mere custodians.