Equality is good for us!

Equality IS good for us. However, equality at the expense of liberty is fascist. Equality and liberty do not coexist easily. It requires a firm commitment by the people to recognize one's own responsibility to the rugged individualism which built this nation. Rights are important and necessary, but equally important are an individual's responsibility to themselves, their families, and their communities. Where we expect less from individuals, we expect more from government. Where we expect more from government, we cede our own liberty.

To me, the best government IS "an individual's responsibility to ... their communities" -- in other words, government is a way of more efficiently (and democratically) fulfilling our commitment to aid one another. Private charity is quite fulfilling for the donor, but not necessarily the most helpful for the recipient.