Let me understand this.  Government is here as a means to provide roads, bridges, water, sewer,  public safety and other common goods for a community BEFORE funding festivals, providing video feeds of its public proceedings and serving as a source of jobs? 
What is amazing is that this editorialneeded to be written.  But it does.  Newark Councilman, Doug Marmie, follows Orwell's advice as a responsible citizen and restates the obvious.