Really thinking about the future of government in America

I've decided that with election totally imploding at this point, its not that interesting. What is more interesting at this point is where do we go from here? What should Americans expect from their government? What is the new role of government.
When the stock market tanked the other day, people were looking for who was to blame. The answer is no one was to blame but the market. The market is going to go up and down, some days more than others. Its not the role of the Federal Government to ensure the Dow is always going up. But everyone agrees its the economy is strength required to maintain our country's safety and prosperity for the pursuit of happiness and the American dream. So what is the role of Government?
I think we want a Government that will ensure our safety, that will produce and economic environment that enables prosperity, that all people are treated fairly, and that life is protected.
The long form of those desires was written out in the Constitution.
The preamble is here, if you haven't read it lately:
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

How did we get so far from this vision?

The years of contributions and failures have lead up to this point. Special interest, war, debt, change in the world and its key players, and the growing role of a Federal government in our lives.

So I wanted to write some articles that would start to discuss the future and what might be able to do, what should do and what will need to do to ensure the American dream is available to our children. A discussion of taxes, term limits, states rights, judicial activism, energy independence, the economy, education, and the military are all key topics.

If you have an interesting topic to discuss about the future policies you think should be taken by our government, leave a comment and start some discussion.