Nobody thinks the state is there to protect them, except for two guys in Nebraska.
Nobody thinks restaurants are in the business of feeding the rats either, but the rats get fed anyway -- as a byproduct.
And restaurants are also not in the business of feeding people -- they're in the business of making money, but you get fed in the process, see how that works?
The "state" is not your friend, but it's not your enemy, either. No more than it is the enemy of oil, halcyon skies or amber waves of grain.
It's plain embarrassing when grist for the mill become politically conscious
Restaurants provide a service for the money that they want. I can choose to give them money for their product or not.
The state offers me no such choice. It's pay for our product or else. Or rather pay our exorbitant, extortionate rates or else.
And what happens when the state realises it needs even more money? If it can't tax enough, it starts counterfeiting. And the more taxes the more of a security setup is required to make sure they are all paid. Hence, the police state, NSA, etc.
You're missing my point. I'm not trying to convince you that the state is benevolent or fair -- arguments like that are childish, and usually degenerate into pillowfights about personal definitions of fairness & goodness. All i'm saying that by [dubious?] virtue of protecting itself & the status quo, the state protects you.
If you wish to see the state as a villain, fine. Think of it as a slaver, and its citizens as the slaves.
It's not in slaver's interests to have his slaves stealing from each other -- he gives each one just enough to survive & work. Some of the slaves may starve & not be able to work, so the slaver makes stealing unattractive -- by flogging. Enlightened self-interest. Same goes for other interslave transgressions -- murder, rape, etc.
The slaver also protects his property from other slavers, just as you would protect your trash cans from being stolen or vandalized. You don't have to like them, it's enough that they are useful to you. Everything works out just fine, security's taken care of, villainous state or not.
