While the Declaration of Independence gives only one reason for government to exist, the United States Constitution calls for a certain number of government services, including to “provide for the common defence” and “promote the general Welfare.” Various state and local government charters also call for services to be provided to the People.

The fundamental difference between protecting Rights and providing services is the intended audience. Protecting Rights is aimed at benefiting individuals. Providing services is, ideally, aimed at everyone. Roads, public transportation, and waste and water management directly benefit just about everyone. Nearly everyone needs to have a reliable path to work or school or the store, and everyone, daily, needs waste and water services to live in a disease-free environment. Unfortunately, most government services rarely directly benefit everyone and become, in a sense, a Privilege. Examples include farm subsidies only for farmers (or in most cases, farming corporations) and welfare checks only for those with sufficiently low income.

The fundamental similarity shared by protecting Rights and providing services is the source of funding. They are both primarily funded by tax payer money. Since government funding is limited, the government must choose wisely between protecting a Right or providing a service. And because protecting Rights necessarily benefits everyone and services may only benefit a few, government should always err on the side of protecting Rights.

Some government services actually harm individual Rights. Consider the privacy impacts of TSA searches in airports every day. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated …” Yet, as a service to public safety, private bags are inspected, pockets are emptied, shoes removed, bodies frisked and water bottles emptied… even though it is all mostly security theater. Again, government should err on the side of protecting Rights.