The government is best which governs the least Essay Example
The government is best which governs the least Essay Example

The government is best which governs the least Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (985 words)
  • Published: December 15, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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There have been many discussions and debates' regarding this statement, yet, we do nothing to change it. A thought of a better place in this world and a better government controlling the society is an image that appears in our minds today. One person speaking out is surely a lost cause in its own. Take the same argument and back it by many voices then someone will listen and maybe do something about it. Today we fight for many things like free tuition fees, better health especially for those who cannot afford it.

"The government is best which governs the least" was said by Henry David Thoreau and I understand the meaning of the statement, but however I do not wholly agree in that statement. I believe the government should be in charge in monitoring all issues and only in

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tervene as and when necessary.

The opinion of the public regarding this matter has been well documented. For most people it is still that the nation-state is still the most important unit to which they belong to. It is the state and not the city, church, industry or trade union which is the ultimate guarantor of the essential order on which any meaningful life depends and which, therefore, is entrusted with the power to maintain it and usually, the right to make those decisions believed to be necessary.1

This shows how people perceive the government, in that they have the supreme power and we the public are powerless to stop it. Even though it is said that it is true that even of the most democratic political systems yet known that some members of the society, play a mor

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active and public part than others in the decision-making progress.2 Even thought some public members and businesses play a bigger role than some politicians in society, it is still the government (state) that makes the decision.

Considering this and going back to answering the question, if anything should at least be taken from the state and put into the society, because the way society is becoming people are not bothered anymore and some do not even know what is going on. They just tick one box every four years for one party and that is it.

A survey by Moodie looked at how much people knew about their government. Barely half the American population can name one senator from their own state.3 This is the same case in the U.K with the MP's (members of parliament).

This would be another criticism against the government, which is that not many people really know what is going on, and in this situation cannot put any views across that may be helpful. The government should make services public and free, especially for those who cannot afford it and for those who have a high income should be made to use private services. This way it is treating the public in terms of how much they can afford.

Answering the question requires us to look at how the economy will be like if it was privatised and to see if it is better than the government running the economy. Privatisation has drastic consequences but it does present us with challenges and opportunities. First it pushes workers and users to develop much stronger working relationships and to build unity between public sector unions, tenants

groups, trades councils and other labour movement.4 Secondly it challenges traditional ideas about trade unionism. Action cannot be limited to pay and conditions but must extend to the control, quality and a range of service. Thirdly, it challenges our lack of control over the use of our savings and contributions. These funds are currently used to buy shares and to build new private hospitals.5 Privatisation has wide-ranging implications. The impact is likely to be significant as large numbers of public employers will move into the private sector and giving the different levels of pay, benefits conditions and trade union organisation, the impact will be significant.6 It can also speed up the process on modern technology, so this would not only benefit the private sector but also the public sector.

However the threat and the running of privatisation will cause people to lose their jobs. When it is being discussed that economy will become privatised the public will start taking on more work with fewer workers. The only contractors can gain anything in the public sector is by undercutting wages and benefits and demanding much higher levels of productivity. Employing fewer workers and making them work harder for longer hours reduces costs.7

Another disadvantage to it is that if you were to work in the private sector and you became ill, you would get two to four weeks full basic pay, then a similar period of half pay. Whereas up to 26 weeks at full pay and 26 at half pay with the local government.8

This shows there is a very big debate towards the statement and in conclusion I would say that my comment I made earlier with

the fact the those who cannot afford public services should use public service and work in the public sector and those with high income should work in the private sector and obtain services from the private sector. In conclusion, 'government is best which governs the least' will be quite harsh statement to put across and there is need of some control in society. As I have explained there are some good and some bad points with having the government running the society. So it would be best if power were to be reduced from the government and given to the public but the government were allowed to intervene if changes in society were affecting the economy in a negative way. This would then lead to a more balance share of power between the government and the public and the government still having some control over the running of the economy.

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