In debate with liberals.

[bchavez]

is it the job of Government to protect the people or the people's rights?

[tpreitzel]

people's unalienable (non-transmutable) rights ... e.g. the right to defend oneself, not necessarily allow the government to defend someone.

[BamaAla]

Both, but the former must be done while respecting the latter.

[wormyguy]

They are synonymous - the legitimate only role of government is to enforce the non-aggression rule - persons may not physically or mentally harm each other or infringe upon each other's property rights (i.e. through theft, fraud, vandalism etc). This is where all rights derive from (aggression against a person for nonviolent speech, for example, violates the rule), and it is also where the responsibility of government to protect the people from being harmed by others comes from.

[Icymudpuppy]

Only their rights. It is the people's responsibility to protect themselves. When a person's rights have been violated by another person, then the government is activated to grant restitution.

[tpreitzel]

Governments are instituted among men for what precise reason again? ;)

[Anti Federalist]

Governments are instituted among men for what precise reason again? ;)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government

[farrar]

life is a right. The government protects rights, and through rights protects us. However, you can not sacrifice rights to protect rights. So it is their job to protect us (if they are going to force us to pay taxes anyways), so long as they do not step on their true mandate which is protecting rights.

[tremendoustie]

is it the job of Government to protect the people or the people's rights?

The formation of a central state violates the rights of the people from day 1, and eliminates any real accountability, paving the way for inevitable greater and greater abuse down the road. A central state that protects rights is an oxymoron -- therefore government should never be based around a central state.

But maybe that's not the answer you were looking for.