John Locke and Government's Purpose

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In my high school government class senior year, my teacher made the class recite and repeat the rights that are clearly stated in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States. “The right of speech, the right of the press, the right to petition, the right to religion, and the right to assemble…” we rattled off the list, then started again. When I stepped out of high school and into the real world, I realized just how grateful I was for the rights that I had and the fact that I had a government that allowed me to live in liberty and observe these rights. The idea of human nature has been studied as early as the ancient Greeks, and continues to be studied today because government will always be important. It can either allow for liberty or turn into a vicious tyranny. And all behind it is the basis of government: liberty and personal rights. As members of society, or even just being human beings, these rights are ours. They are fundamental and crucially important. In order for mankind to achieve self liberty, a government or organization is necessary, but only through government that is chosen by and representative of the people of the society. Through this government that provides power to the people, liberty is preserved by protecting rights, giving a voice to the general society, and if need be, creating a way to keep in check or remove a corrupt government. Forward thinking John Locke described the government’s purpose in his Second Treatise on government. To this great thinker, political power is “a right of making laws…only for the public good” (Locke). This idea of organization is key to liberty. Government is made to protect the rights of a free person, not to remove or tarnish them. Thus, it is the type... ... middle of paper ... ...ingle woman to never live in fear that their basic, necessary rights will be taken away. As the Declaration of Independence states, everyone should be able to uphold the rights of “the enjoyment of life and liberty…and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety” (“Declaration of Independence”). A well organized government can ensure these rights. Works Cited "Declaration of Independence." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. . Fox, Frank W., and Clayne L. Pope. City upon a Hill: The Legacy of America's Founding. Provo, UT: BYU Academic Pub., 2010. Print. Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government by John Locke." Oregon State University. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. a.html>.

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