The Role of State

What is the role of the State? Yes we all hate it, but all the stateless societies are dead, so there's a good reason its here.
Must the state make sure of the well-being of the citizens? Must it enforce justice? How much power is it allowed to have over us?

Is not the role of the State the same as it has always been - to preserve the power of those that maintain economic surplus.

Tribes along the Northwest coast of North America practised an event called the Potlatch. It was an event where a feast was an oppurtunity, for those with surplus food, to share with those less fortunate. The event was an oppurtunity to gain respect (and power). There are other examples of trade for power with economic surplus (ex. Kula in Trobriand Islands).

Eventually, these rituals led to the formation of more and more organised systems of power (and the enforcement of the power). I think one of the most powerful events that happened was the monopoly of goods to those in power. Borders were created to define where the goods extended to. Eventually those that, at one time, provided for the wealth of the community were provided for.

Granted the idea does exist that we have moved from providing for the wealthly in recent societies. But is this true

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Yes we all hate it, but all the stateless societies are dead, so there's a good reason its here.

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So what is the GOOD reason?
Because lose gathering of people formed into bands which raided others to provide for their needs & diesires?
Norsemen ranged to many areas in the search of plunder, the pirates of the Old World were given immutiny by one government (English) to plunder the ships of other nations (Spanish). As nations (governing state) warred for domination of the world?
Because there will always be those who are willing to kill to steal what they want too? Look at our own societies budget, the greatest expense is in the development & procurment of arms? WMD, why do we accept the need for these things, let alone spend to money to develope them?

"So what is the GOOD reason? "
That your stateless society will die pretty damn quick.

Absolutely right Teen, a sad commentary of man's existence!

The role of the State?

Considering the various forms of Government since 3000 BC... in its earliest form, nothing more that the collective pool of resources and safety in numbers.

If we seek to preserve our way of life in modern terms,
'Life, Liberty, & Property Rights.'

Hmm . . . question?

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Who owns the airwaves?
Some businesses, like cell phone companies, pay the government to use their airwaves (also "spectrum" ).
Radio and TV broadcasters, though, use these airwaves free of charge - although they make enormous profits from them. In return for this favor, by law, broadcasters are supposed to serve the "public interest."

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http://www.freepress.net/guide/airwaves.php

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They reflect and influence our culture through arts and entertainment.
As such, they play a vital role in our democracy, shaping citizens' understanding of social and political issues and functioning as gatekeepers through which issues, people, and events must pass. No matter what you care about - gun rights or abortion rights, the environment or economics - the media influence the perceptions of citizens and policymakers, affecting the policies that touch us all.

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http://www.freepress.net/guide/

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If we seek to preserve our way of life in modern terms,
'Life, Liberty, & Property Rights.'

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In whose domain are these 'property' rights?

As I understand it, the airwave broadcast spectrum; for private or commercial use, they awarded based on highest bid; for the public use, they they are assigned. In either case they are temporarily owned in similar fashion to long-term leaseholds of property & buildings located on Federal Airports and lands.

Does that answer it the question correctly?

There are three schools of thought on the airwaves spectrum and its 'rightful' ownership:

1. Some folk argue that it should be strictly a 'public domain' where band width is assigned by the Government based on criteria that meets the greater good of the populous. The idea here is that public owner ship ensures cooperate are not the source of propaganda that shapes our Government & Laws.
2. Others argue that it should be strictly a 'private domain' where each owner can sell or trade it as with tangible property. The idea here is that quality programming is met by reacting to the market place, i.e. people vote with their wallet. And, it prevents Government propaganda from influencing the Public.
3. Lastly, there is the 'near' middle-of-the-road view, which seems to prevail now. The airwaves spectrum is regulated and band widths assigned or awarded for certain terms to service both views 1 and 2.

What I found interesting was that an earlier page,
the web was also is listed in similar terms.
Thank you for the information.