On Government

[jackofallgeeks]

Wow! We just had a grand time in Philosophy - or I did, at least. I must say, it was the best class, stright across the board, that I've had all year! We're studying Locke, now, who had a great impact on English and American Political philosophy. As such, we started talking about what 'government' means - what it should do.

We had a discussion for about half an hour, back and forth around the room. After a little directing from Prof. Doolan, we came to understand that Government should promote the common good, where upon someone contended that it seemed we were all talking about Democracy. To that, Doolan questioned us "Do you think the only true government is a Democratic one?"

The class was split, with one part claiming yes, Democracy (while not perfect) was the only one that truely fit the bill because it was the only one that was guided by the people. My part, however, contended that no, any form of government can be good or bad, and it is only truely Government in that it serves the people. A poor democracy is no better than a poor monarchy, and a Monarch who truely thinks of the best for his people (wich is the true aim of the government) is just as fit to rule as a well-worked democracy.

I did conceed that Democracy is a more stable form of government, but that is a double-edged sword. It's harder to corrupt a good democracy, but it is just as difficult to purge a poor democracy. A similar difficulty rests in monarchy in that a poor King will corrupt the whole system but, just as easily, a good king can rectify it. The form is unimportant, it is simply the aim that is necessary.

Oh but it was grand. It was wonderful. I love debates!
^____^

Comments

[surichan.livejournal.com]

Ah, government...I would definitely agree, a government which works for the good of the people is the best kind of government to have - no matter what form said government takes. A democracy is good, in that people can have their own say in what is in their best interests or not, but on the other hand, look at the state of our voting populous: most people don't take the time to actually study the political situations that surround us; they just traipse through life, deaf, dumb, and blind, letting the government make their decisions for them. And that's how democracies become corrupt, when the people give up their say-so.

People often confuse my Libertarianism with Anarchism because I say our government as it exists now has to go - so they think I want to abolish government completely. This is in no way the truth, you see. I don't want no government, I just want a better government, one which supports freedom and honesty and the people they are supposed to be working for.

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

See, I would go even further and say that a 'government' is not TRULY a government unless is serves the people. Any system which does otherwise is not a government, but some other entity.

Also, that The Masses have a say in their well-being isn't always a good thing in and of itself. I don't mean to say that the 'government knows better' or anything - I strongly disagree with that - but I do admit that people often have a tendency to (perhaps unwittingly) harm themselves. As such, I think true democracy is rather a very unstable government.

As for our representative Government, you're right, we as a Nation no longer take active part in our government, and with the system we have, that spells disaster. Most Americans don't vote, and I would dare say most who DO vote don't necessarily do all the research they should do.

As a final note, I think I agree as well that our government needs more than it's fair share of Spring Cleaning. My answer would be a smaller national government, one that keeps it's nose out of our personal business - and generally demolish the Welfare state we've created. Quite frankly, we're all grown ups, and if we trip and stub our toe, that's our own damn problem - I should hope that we might be able to foster a society where the COMMUNITY can help those in need, but it is not, as I perceive it, the Government's job to support anyone.