The private sector and non-profits can take care of health care, scientific and health research, education, etc. sometimes better than, sometimes worse than, the government. They currently do much of it now.
Not so for national defense, espionage, etc.
It’s the “first purpose” not because every marginal dollar is best spent there, but because that is its irreplaceable function: the use of violent, coercive force.
The private sector and non-profits can take care of health care, scientific and health research, education, etc. sometimes better than, sometimes worse than, the government. They currently do much of it now.
Not so for national defense, espionage, etc.
It’s the “first purpose” not because every marginal dollar is best spent there, but because that is its irreplaceable function: the use of violent, coercive force.