RE: State, Society, and Government
Great essay. I like the way you define society and how it affects you. I also agree with your definition of government, especially in it's MAIN function of protection
While I disagree with you on your definitions of State versus government, I do agree that there are a body of people that subvert and then abuse the power of government as you so nicely describe. You call this group of people the State.
Instead of arguing with you about the definition, can I ask you how you came to define that group as "the State"?
I tend to call them rent-seekers and do-gooders. I have seen them referred to as the "Deep State" before. I also have seen the class of politicans, burrocrats, academics, NGO, corporate honchos, and media referred to as "the politcal class".
Government is the people who plunder the productive economy and abuse society. the State is the religious belief that the authority claimed by governments is legitimate. The concepts are what matter. People often switch the words, or use different terms, but the core concept remains the same.
Absolutely.
Then I have to say, other than a semantic disagreement on one word, this is the perfect article ;>