Why We Have A Government (Essay) - US History
In order to define government, one must first ask oneself “What is the objective of government?” Throughout history, a multitude of people have tried to answer this question. The thesis of this essay is that the government should be there to protect its people.
One of the reasons, that the government should protect its people, is that they can not protect themselves. The 16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, agreed with this statement, saying “The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities.” (Abraham Lincoln, Fragment on Government). Lincoln claims, that it is the lawful goal of the government to do for the people what they can’t do themselves which supports the thesis, as providing protection is not something a civilian can do individually.
Another reason for the government to protect its people, is that without said protection the would be culture on earth during war times because life would only be about survival and the industry would come to a stop just as people would stop making music or creating art. The English Philosopher Thomas Hobbes became known for his view on the government, as he believed it to be a device for collective security. “Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of Warre, where every man is Enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withall. In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain” (Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes). Hobbes states that if the government doesn’t protects its people, the future of them would be uncertain and there would be “no Culture of the Earth”
Further supporting this thesis, is the fact that the need for protection was one of the arguments for american independence. Thomas Paine, an american propagandist, wrote about this in his pamphlet, “Common Sense”. He said “[Great Britain] did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account.” (Common Sense, Thomas Paine). Paine wrote this because he knew that it was the government's job to protect its people which is why he wanted to become independent as Great Britain didn’t protect them properly.
In conclusion, a government is instituted so that it protects it people because they cannot protect themselves and because without the government's protection, the future of the country would be uncertain and there would be no place for culture.