Government must protect society's most vulnerable: children

"To Protect and to serve" is the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department. These words are inscribed on all the patrol cars of the force. The phrase directs the department in its duty to the citizens of the city of angels.

It also is a succinct definition of a government of the people for the people. It is a simple way to define the role of any political organization. The challenge is to be certain to define what to protect and serve and how to do it most effectively and efficiently.

If we were to create a list of what government should protect it would be as long as this country is vast. Still there would be a coalescing of concerns that if not all, the majority could agree upon.

From a biological global perspective it would seem natural that we would want to protect this fragile sphere that we all inhabit.

If it goes we are gone with it. It is how we protect and what we do to protect it and at what cost and with what compromises that is the question.

If one were to take a biological approach it would be first air, then water, next farmland for food and space for shelter, energy for growth and areas for our sanity and pleasure.

One can't stop breathing without some predictable and unfortunate consequences. Try it longer than a few minutes and you will see what I mean. Then attempt not to drink water or consume any food for the next 40 days.

Recorded history has identified at least one person who has done it, but neither you nor I are of his character.

Next it seems that the collective interest of a government for the people would work to have its citizens covered from the elements and to have the energy to promote progress and support sustainable growth.

This doesn't mean that any government is obligated, nor is it in the ultimate best interest to maintain the current source of energy if in the short and long term it does harm to the first priorities of air, water, food, and space.

With this list there is also the critical need for humans to act as stewards of land and water for themselves and their coming generations. To be caged up with adequate air, clean water and fresh food and a bare light bulb is still prison if there is not room to see the sky, feel the wind, or hear the sounds of Earth.

To protect and to serve must extend to the fundamental social unit of the family and then to the vulnerable.