Who Is "The Country" ?

I think Mark Twain was accurate regarding many of his statements about society and government. However, such accuracy was, many times, idealistic. Yes, maybe some of his criticisms were true, but too often he offered no solutions. He enjoyed observing and reporting. I think he was a genius. Certainly a great writer. I agree with the following quote. However, it is very idealistic. Yes, people in government are servants. They are very well paid "servants." And some of them have a great deal of authority over us. The following is the quote I discuss:

"For in a Republic, who is 'the country?' Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them." Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) (1835-1910)