What is the essence of government? Is it about education, science, helping others or providing food and health care? Not primarily. All those things can be done by some other group.

The true essence, the defining characteristic of government, is the ability to use force on others. The ability to use force on non-violent people at home and abroad, the ability to imprison and the ability to kill.

The goal of every lover of liberty and freedom should be to, whenever possible, reduce and equalize the power and reach of government and empower the free individual.