unicorns

when people say gov't is founded on principles of liberty, equality, social justice, etc. it's not exactly true.

for example, the constitution and bill of rights were designed TO PROTECT these priniciples against decay and erosion.

so, the more precise phrasing would be that a gov't is founded on the the principle OF PROTECTING liberty (primarily at the level of the individual vs. the state), equality, social justice, etc.

our gov't is a machine / device / mechanism / system of government / process / etc. designed to protect idealistic principles from eroding against the natural forces of the world ... for there is only one governing principle in Nature - the principle of (relative) stability.