On the Duty of Civil Obedience
“On the Duty of Civil Obedience”
I do not accept the motto. –“That government is best which governs least.” Government is a completely necessary institution. Without it, nations would crumble, famine would flourish, and massacres would occur daily. Of course it would be nice if humans didn’t need government, if men’s moral compasses all pointed in the same (correct) general direction. But they do not. It is just a far-fetched fantasy of perfection, it is impractical. Which is why government is necessary, and if it is to function, its citizens must obey its laws.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. “ -JFK
Now, if we were to have a government that supports such things as unjust war and slavery, then by all means should one oppose this government. Certainly, not supporting the government in any way is a highly effective of making it change, as long as the institution knows why it is not being supported. Although the above is true, in the current times there are no reasons for this to happen. Slavery has been abolished, thankfully, and there is (currently) no overbearing human rights problem in the United States. The armed conflicts that the U.S. is currently involved with have nothing to do with conquest. The Mexican-American War could have been argued against as a problem of liberty, but the current war in Pakistan is against terrorism. It is against groups that do not belong to any government. These terrorists are not fighting for freedom. They are killing Americans, and we are trying to stop them. There is nothing wrong with the government using our tax money to protect us, and it would be wrong for us to deprive the government with the means to protect us.
“If you have sense enough to realize why flies gather around a restaurant, you should be able to appreciate why men run for office.”
- EDGAR WATSON HOWE
Let us pretend for a moment that the United States government is being tyrannical, or that tit advocates
I do not accept the motto. –“That government is best which governs least.” Government is a completely necessary institution. Without it, nations would crumble, famine would flourish, and massacres would occur daily. Of course it would be nice if humans didn’t need government, if men’s moral compasses all pointed in the same (correct) general direction. But they do not. It is just a far-fetched fantasy of perfection, it is impractical. Which is why government is necessary, and if it is to function, its citizens must obey its laws.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. “ -JFK
Now, if we were to have a government that supports such things as unjust war and slavery, then by all means should one oppose this government. Certainly, not supporting the government in any way is a highly effective of making it change, as long as the institution knows why it is not being supported. Although the above is true, in the current times there are no reasons for this to happen. Slavery has been abolished, thankfully, and there is (currently) no overbearing human rights problem in the United States. The armed conflicts that the U.S. is currently involved with have nothing to do with conquest. The Mexican-American War could have been argued against as a problem of liberty, but the current war in Pakistan is against terrorism. It is against groups that do not belong to any government. These terrorists are not fighting for freedom. They are killing Americans, and we are trying to stop them. There is nothing wrong with the government using our tax money to protect us, and it would be wrong for us to deprive the government with the means to protect us.
“If you have sense enough to realize why flies gather around a restaurant, you should be able to appreciate why men run for office.”
- EDGAR WATSON HOWE
Let us pretend for a moment that the United States government is being tyrannical, or that tit advocates