Power can lead anyone to be selfish. This is why we have to keep them contained. Andrew Kohut in his research paper “The people and their Governments” states “Rather than an activist government to deal with the nation’s top problems, the public now wants government reformed and growing numbers want its power curtailed. With the exception of greater regulation of major financial institutions, there is less of an appetite for government solutions to the nation’s problems –
However, the citizens wanted to make their own rules to follow, sensible and understandable rules. Further on Paine explains “the sun will never shine on a cause of greater worth?” I think that Paine is saying that it is such an issue that we should look to reform it in any way so that it is more fair to all citizens. The struggle of having a King or a Monarchy for the people at that time was difficult. The community wanted a more fair and equal government, while the king was not giving that to them. Let’s take for instance when Paine refers to the past writings of another author, Mr. Pelham “they will last my time.” The name of ancestors will be remembered for their great deeds by future generations with destinies of their own.
Yet that chaos in not the same as now, therefore the constitution must be interpreted loosely in a way that it fits society nowadays. Loose construction is based on the idea that the Founding Fathers could not have foreseen what the world would be like in the 21st Century, and that the Constitution must be interpreted in light of historic and societal change. Loose construction allows the government to expand powers that are not specifically outlined in the Constitution as long as these powers are not specifically prohibited. Society changed from day to day and the country has to be ready for when changes are made. If powers are not outlined in the constitution, then it is up to the government (courts, judges, etc.)
Government’s aims are always to please the public, or do the best for the state and so these groups clearly show the government what a certain band of people wish to happen. They allow these people to meet up and band together to express common viewpoints; they provide a safe haven for people with a belief or grievance to vent their disenchantment. While it is beneficial to the democracy of the state to take note of these views they often are only a sectional interest of the population. By definition a pressure group only represents a sectional interest, the government is interested in national interest and so the two do not really come together. The government have to govern to the national interest rather than smaller sections of the community with a particularly large voice, in that sense these views can often be outnumbered by national beliefs yet a louder voice allows them to be implemented against the majority which can only be considered a disadvantage as it allows for sometimes unpopular and extreme beliefs to be taken into consideration when the ‘national interest’ would not wish them to be.
This is why it is very imperative that the citizens should learn about their government. Not knowing how the government works could really affect the lives of many citizens. If citizens did not know about the democratic and the republican. Without government and laws, people would run wild over society. The purpose of government is to maintain order and prevent social chaos.
If someone were to break these unofficial rules they would no be longer trusted by their peers. One might say that these rules should not be applied in real life. These rules should definitely be applied our daily lives. By learning what these rules are about such as, no snitching, mind your own business and etc. These rules are plainly common sense and in reality they really are applied into our daily lives.
Security vs. Privacy We know that people want security in their in life but prefer their privacy, so when it comes down to it which is more important? We read how Bruce Schneier wanted the people to have privacy and how he knows that people don’t do anything but with constant surveillance the government will accuse you of something. As on the other hand we have Chris Cillizza who believes that privacy is important but it won’t keep you safe from foreign attacks. Also Cillizza shows that any type of information that the government finds suspicious will put people at risk. Honestly in this type of argument it comes down to the better facts rather than opinions and that’s why Cillizza makes the better argument.
In the constitution we are told to keep the government and its power at a minimum. As a nation if we feel that the government is taking too many liberties or creating unjust laws we have the right as the citizens to challenge it and if the case, end it. Nowadays it isn’t uncommon to see the citizens of America wanting the government to do everything for them and by doing this many other followers being thinking the same way. This alone begins a movement that threatens our rights. By voting and being active within our government we can continue limiting the power to our advantage and by involving those who don’t; we can begin creating more citizens that help create a better nation.
Thoreau believes in a government that puts the needs of the people ahead of the needs of the unjust few. His belief can be misinterpreted as a cry to abolish the government but he makes it clear by stating, “But to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government” (Thoreau 830). This sentence is the most important statement made by Thoreau because it is the starting point of what he wants in an American Government. He does not ask for a perfect government but a fair and free government. He goes on to say that some injustice was far too great to overlook, such as slavery.
He thought that the government would be given too much power. His thoughts on the injustices in the Constitution greatly influenced the making of the Bill of Rights. At the time, Federalists argued that the Constitution didn’t need a bill of rights, due to the fact that the people and states kept any powers not given to the federal government, but Anti-Federalists said that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty. So when the Bill of Rights was made it listed prohibitions on governmental power and the rights that were granted to people. When the Bill of Rights was adopted into the Constitution it was became the fundamental rights of all citizens in 1791.