What is the primary function of government?

The primary role of government is to uphold the rule of law in order to safeguard life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Secondary, I would get into specific duties that are government's responsibility... police protection, military, things like that...

At the state level specifically, the central role of government continues to be courts, rule of law, and law and order. Enforcing laws, catching criminals, and making sure we don't descend into anarchy or lawlessness...

Beyond that, most things government does can and should be privatized. Including transportation, education, and just about everything.

Bill White thinks the primary function of Texas government is education (link). Excerpt follows...

Katy Bacon, White’s spokeswoman, said the hiring of foreign nurses shows the state has failed to educate enough Texans for the jobs. That's a Perry issue “since he's the leader of state government, and the primary function of state government is education," Bacon said. "The buck stops at his desk.”

I guess I see where she is coming from in terms of the state spending such a huge portion of its budget on education... but the way she put that just bothers me...

Bill White is also against across the board cuts which are some of the most effective cuts we can do. He is trying to be the education candidate (link). Excerpt follows...

“I wouldn’t do across-the-board cuts — education needs to be the top priority,” he said.

I get that... education is an issue that almost always benefits Democrats at the polls... but there is so much bloat and waste in education it is not even funny... why should it be spared audits and trimming? More money does not mean "more education." These days I think people get that...