"Common Sense" By Thomas Paine

In the document, Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues about America's Independence. 

He begins distinguishing between government and society. Society, according to Paine, is the good constructive well being of the people. People is what makes a society lively and fascinating. A government is what sets the laws of society. The government is suppose to protect society from our own vice. (meaning our actions) That is the sole purpose of government.

From the outset, Paine makes it clear that he is not particularly fond of government, whose sole value he thinks lies in "restraining our vices". For Paine, the natural state of man is to live without government, and government's existence is justified only to the extent that it alleviates problems that would be created by this natural, anarchic way of life. If a government fails to improve society or, worse, actively causes some of the same troubles that would result from anarchy, it is particularly blameworthy.

After reading this, I believe that the governments only job is to protect us. But nowadays the government is slowly trying to control our society.
Though Thomas Paine thinks that the government is evil, I too agree that the people are bad nature in some ways as well.