Does this mean that government is an embodiment of 'our wickedness' or a necessary 'product' to control our wickedness? I would also suggest the latter. I would also suggest that society is a product of human 'needs' rather than 'wants' - Anon seems to use the terms to mean the same thing when in many instances they can be the polar opposite. Good government should concern itself with creating and maintaining sustainable environments that meet human needs and therefore has to be caring and also controlling in relation to evil and wickedness.

This quote references the truism that freedom and it's ally control are experienced as relative concepts by individuals. Freedom from the attachment of consumerism experienced by many of the materially poor but spiritually enriched children of India is a perfect example of this.

Aristotle does not say that the state is unnecessary - the debate is about quality and quantity of a necessity based on the acceptance that we are social beings as well as individuals.

That's a rather extreme view of a progressive taxation system Mary MI.

Good government is about both the creation and redistribution of wealth and resources. A climate for creation and a structure for flow and redistribution. Many of the worlds' problems are caused by a lack of flow or redistribution of money, resources and wealth. I think it's called sharing at it's most basic level. Inequality in terms of ability and reward does not preclude fairness in this respect. The pie is large but those who don't have a slice still need to be offered a bite. Socialists and liberals are not against the creation of wealth but they are about ensuring that there are mechanisms in place to ensure that the wealth of a nation and hopefully the bounty of the world are redistributed as fairly as possible. There is massive wealth in the world but it is sitting in the bank accounts of the richest minority doing nothing but creating an ever increasing gap and an ever increasing resentment.

This quote implies that we are all slaves to something - the paper and electronic systems of international money trading, corporate banking and stock exchange are understood by few despite their far reaching effects on many. What's the alternative? How does bit coin and its derivatives work again?

If the prefix 'inter' is added to the word dependency in this quote then its true nonsense is revealed.

This statement would only be applicable in the analysis of a comprehensively standard and universal education system e.g. The Japanese system which at least ensures 100% literacy and numeracy. The redistribution of life chances so that all have the opportunity to shine rather than a search for a common denominator of mediocrity is the underpinning philosophy of state education systems which in many western countries, the USA and U.K. in particular are underfunded and are used as poor examples to maintain the cronyism and privilege of private systems that operate alongside them.

This is ' nature v nurture' debate expressed in a slightly different way. We are social beings as well as individuals. To act in society we need a degree of conformity unless you want to become a hermit. Maybe some of you are?

Public good as an unintentional byproduct of individual self interest. The tone of the quote is almost apologetic in its nod to the counter intuitive nature of its message. It is about power and totally ignores the power invested in social stratification and privilege by the self interested owners of capital. The ownership of a mobile phone will not begin to address that imbalance.

Many great ideas and discoveries are collaborative and dependent on inspirational communities. You can't have one without the other. I also think it's questionable that mankind is moving forward.

The same criticism can be leveled at those with the thumbs up Mike Norwalk. The religious fervor associated with the sacred constitution and the god like worship of those who recycled its central ideas from previous European ideology is plain to see. Government is necessary. The State as a tool of government is necessary. Quantity and quality is the debate.

He stops short of calling interventionism - the promotion and protection of American (and British) commercial as well as ideological interests abroad by its true name - imperialism. Mr Archer is right in this instance, the British are past masters at this type of international exploitation then have the nerve to call their empire a "commonwealth". This is the militarization of capital interest. There is no honor or victory in this.

The state in a capitalist society works in favour of capital and a privileged few to protect and maintain that privilege. Hence the mass unfairness in distribution of resources in the world.

Enoch Powell's 'rivers of blood speech' is one of the most culturally divisive and descriptive at the same time. Unfortunately you don't have to dig too deep to unearth racism in this country or in the U.S. A dispassionate view of Powell was his acceptance of the substantive reality and a call to do something about it. It was and still is dismissed by many as inflammatory rhetoric.

Archer, when you glibly reference George Orwell's 1984 to support your thin justification of individualism you ignore the fact that he was a committed democratic socialist and fought on the side of the POUM in the Spanish Civil War - read "Homage to Catalonia" - He latterly became convinced that the pen is mightier than the sword, gun, bomb and we now have his incredible works to evidence that force of argument not force of arms is the only basis for true change.
And seriously Carol, Georgia "confiscation of weapons is a crime against humanity" Mass production and mass availability of weapons and the death and destruction they cause is a crime against humanity. Death by gun shot has been monetized in America and you are blinded to this fact. Do you all seriously think by the right to individual gun ownership you do anything to promote libertarian values in today's world??

Utter bollocks. Think circle not straight line. Extreme views are moderated by reasoned arguments.

The creation is Love, the 'maintenance' of social order is Peace and Understanding. As Nick Lowe asks: What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? So where are the Strong and who is the Trusted and where is the Harmony?

Postmodernity in a nutshell.

Archer, I presume you mean Mr Kahn who is Mayor of London and was commenting on the potential alarm caused to Londoners by the increase in number of armed police on London Streets - an uncommon sight - and not the atrocities of London Bridge and Borough Market (not Manchester). President Trump's 'tweeted' remarks were outrageous in the circumstances and completely misinformed; as you are also apparently. The Queen in the UK has no political power or influence. Even the most ardent royalist could not deny that she has no more than a tokenistic role. British citizens are subject to the rule of law facilitated by acts of parliament over which Queeny has no input or real influence. Britain has no written constitution and is therefore not saddled with historical anachronisms such as the right to bear arms. You seem to imply that if we had such a right then things would somehow have been better!! If guns are freely available in society then the carnage is much worse.

This is a true example of political correctness gone mad. A slavish adherence to 'right' enshrined in a political document despite its contemporary dangers and detriments.

I think this explains victimization and scapegoating of an ethnic minority when the real blame lies elsewhere. Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's but also more recent examples of Rwanda and Bosnia. Totalitarianism begins in contempt for what you have but when what you have is nothing or next to nothing then the arguments, lies and illusions are easier to initiate and maintain. Greater fairness in society and mechanisms of wealth redistribution are antidotes rather than causes of this.

Mike, read something on the mechanics of addiction, you may find it illuminating - and why are you bracketing endorphins and dopamine with alcohol and nicotine when the production of endorphins and dopamine is the 'effect' of using stimulants? May have to concede though that tobacco may even cause more death than even gunshot in the USA.

No Mike. Using my logic you would say that people are addicted to wiping their ass and the nice feeling that results... and you could use other things to do that...although toilet paper has the market cornered...iconic example of capitalism. People are not usually addicted to the 'thing' but to the effect it produces. What's the addictive effect of weapon ownership? Power? an antidote to feelings of inadequacy? just the thrill of the kick back? Just to gaze at that shiny metal life taker, the devil's right hand? All addictive stuff!! and there's no substitute.

Does the crime fit the punishment? Increasingly justice is a commodity affordable to those with deep enough pockets - the outrage and feelings of mankind are more than often ignored.