My opinion is that government is no substitute for family in organizing and enriching anyone's personal life. And, at the end of the day, "government" doesn't make and enforce laws, people in government do, so their biases often get the force of law. But, over time, the pushing and pulling of contending forces in a diverse society like ours does result, broadly, in attaining a modicum of "justice" or "fairness." The strong still prevail over the weak overall (that's human nature), but the weak have a fighting chance under law. I'd rather have recourse to law than be ruled by ruthless, self-serving Mafiosi who aren't accountable to anyone except the next guy's lupara.