How Liberty and Order Play an Important Role on Government

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Liberty and social order have a reciprocating nature with each other. At times of chaos, governments tend to try to restore peace and order by any means necessary, usually by power. On the other hand, at times of tranquility, there is a wholesome significance of freedom. It is the state’s responsibility to protect and serve the people. Usually after a catastrophic event, such as a mass murder at an airport, the government should step in and restore order in this situation, but how far will it go? Should there be more laws and regulations – thus limiting everyone’s freedom in any shape or form – or should the government not intervene at all? If a nation does happen to fall into a situation like this, it should neither take full control nor let it take over by itself; however, it should take it into moderation in order to maintain both liberty and social order.

After a tragic event, people should expect their government to take some action, but there are many beliefs on how their government should operate. Henry David Thoreau in “Civil Obedience” believes that people can control themselves, “government is best which governs least” (305). A government that governs least is not an ideal state, mainly because of the unstable, such as mentally ill people. What Thoreau is explaining is that all people have discipline, which is not entirely true. He does not hold into account the unstable, mentally ill people with no one to stop them who have no self-control; nonetheless, to leave them to manage themselves is the equivalent of releasing wild animals free, which will then give destructive results. Therefore, the state shall be a safety net if anything becomes chaotic.

Another reason government should take liberty and social order into ...

... middle of paper ...

...public want to give up liberty would be considered foolish for Rousseau. He explains, “Such an act of surrender is illegitimate, null, and void by the mere fact that he who make ...it is not in his right mind. To say the same thing of a whole People is tantamount to admitting that the People in question are a nation of imbeciles. Imbecility does not produce Right” (245). He believes that a loss of freedom is in no way acceptable. In conclusion, when people gain more order, they lose some of their freedoms, voluntarily or not.

Works Cited

Thoreau, Henry D. “Civil Disobedience.” A World of Ideas. By Lee A. Jacobus. 9th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 301-305. Print.
Gibson, James L. "The Struggle between Order and Liberty in Contemporary Russian Political Culture." Australian Journal of Political Science 32.2 (1997): 271-90. ProQuest. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

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