The goal of politics: Create a just society, so that ethical behavior of individuals becomes possible and advantageous. 

Problem of the common good: How do we reach what is good for everyone? The government is supposed to act in everyone’s interest, not just represent partial interests in society.

The role of the government is to create and maintain a fair economic system. The US economy is 17% of gross world product (GWP). The United States' GDPwas estimated to be $17.9 trillion as of 2015(GDP). In 2015, the U.S. federal budget is $3.8 trillion. These trillions of dollars make up about 21 percent of the U.S. economy (GDP). It's about $12,000 for every person in the US. The debt to GDP ratio is currently about 75%. (By comparison: Germany's debt to GDP ratio is 81%, and worldwide the ratio is 64%. Japan is an aberration with 214% debt ratio.) 

• The government is responsible for the social and economic "infrastructure." It is a political task to maintain education, health care, retirement- and welfare systems, which enables the economy to function smoothly. The government is expected to act in the name of an overarching notion of justice: What is good for the society as a whole? 

• The government is by far the largest economic player in the market operation; approximately  25 to 30 percent of all economic activity is stimulated or consumed by federal, state, and local governments. 

• Governments manage the economic system through monetary and fiscal policies. Also through the prevention of monopolies,  insider trading, etc. the government has the power to create market rules, i.e. regulation of banking (Dodd-Frank). 

• The system of taxation finances the government and can be seen as a system that redistributes wealth. Progressive taxation (higher earners pay a progressively higher share of their income) acknowledges that economic justice cannot be achieved with strict equality. 

• Government creates the foundation of all economic activity by creating money and guaranteeing the value of money.  (Federal Reserve.)

• Finally, the government acts as "Sovereign," the creator of laws. It is also responsible for the foundation of all economic activity by creating money and guaranteeing the value of money. Nothing can function without money and monetary stability. 

The government has four main macroeconomic goals: 

• Low inflation, 

• Low interest rates, 

• low unemployment, 

• balanced trade with other nations. 

In honor of Wolfgang Schäuble’s last day as finance minister of Germany (Oct 23, 2017), more than 300 of his staff at the finance ministry in Berlin dressed in black and formed a circle celebrating Schäuble’s famous Schwarze Null (“black zero”)—shorthand for his mission to balance Germany’s budget.