[conservatism_IS_compassion]

SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins.

Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness;

the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices.

The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions.

The first is a patron, the last a punisher.

Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one . . .
For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest . . . — Thomas Paine,Common Sense (1776)

Conflating society and government is simply a way to make it hard to think about society as a concept as distinguished from government.

And as Paine shows above, society and government are in a real sense opposites. Society being inherently good - and government an expense regrettably necessary because society is imperfect. He would promote government will inevitably be critical of society.

A jury is to represent society and to assume innocence in a criminal defendant who is prosecuted by the government.

[ProgressingAmerica]

This is a great reminder. Most appreciated.

[ProgressingAmerica]

I saw this again in my ping list, I didn't catch the last line at first but this is something I hope you have before or will again in the future repeat.

"A jury is to represent society and to assume innocence in a criminal defendant who is prosecuted by the government."

This is really profound. The jury separation equation so that the government cannot hurt us indiscriminately.