The things you have listed are all powers that can only be exercised by the government, not by individual legislators. There is a significant difference between

The things you have listed are all powers that can only be exercised by the government, not by individual legislators. There is a significant difference between giving power to government and giving power to the individuals that form the government. The former - though the amount of power may be debatable - gives purpose to the government. The latter, on the other hand, is probably one of the most poisonous influences on a democracy.