That is a wonderful sentiment. I might even have been true still when Lincoln said that. I've studied enough history to be sure that I can't tell. But it is

That is a wonderful sentiment. I might even have been true still when Lincoln said that. I've studied enough history to be sure that I can't tell. But it is certainly not true now. The government of the present day is primarily an antagonist of the people, extracting the maximum of wealth and power that it can without enduring a revolt.