What is the ideal role of the government in 50 words or less?

This is one of the questions I have to answer for my Libetarian Application. I have an answer in mind, but it might be a little too snarky. But the “safe” answer (“The ideal government is limited to common defense and arbitration of dispute between citizens”) is way too boring. Also, there’s one question that doesn’t have a word limit and so I’m writing what I guess is a “Statement of Purpose” except not really. I don’t know. At this point I want to give up on the whole thing because I feel like all my answers are garbage and I have no idea how to make them any better. It’s been a very long time since I’ve done an application.

Also, I never do anything risky, because I am a freaking Hobbesian, so I’m afraid to be even the littlest bit creative or snarky in my answers, even though it could help, if I am knowing my audience correctly, so to speak.

I guess I need to sucker some people into reading over my application. At least it is mostly short answer (as in, 100 words or less). I really need to get this in final draft shape so I can meet the first application deadline. Because really, hitting the early deadline feels like the only way in hell I’ll have a shot at this.