Response to "What kind of government does Thoreau feel would be most just?"

While reading “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau I noticed many similarities to “Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching” by Lao-tzu. The kind of government Thoreau feels would be most just is the kind of government Lao-tzu describes. This kind of government is one that gives its citizens their space and lets them mainly decide what laws they want to abide by; basically it is a non controlling government, very un-totalitarian, and defiantly not a good representation of the government in which rules today. The quote that is famous to this piece, and also happens to be my favorite is, “That government is best which governs least, (Thoreau 137)” and the other quote which is supported fully by Thoreau is, “That government is best which governs not at all. (Thoreau 137)”

These two quotes easily sum up Thoreau’s entire essay. He goes into great detail about how the government should pull back and respect its people much more, how laws are meant to be broken if they are unreasonable, and how lawmakers should give the right to decide to the people of the government, not the higher-up authority. All these aspects create a more just government in the eyes of Thoreau; a government in which Thoreau would actually respect and agree with. When Thoreau states, “But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it, (Thoreau 138)” he is explaining how if not every single human being’s opinion is taken into consideration when it comes to governmental decisions, the government is not one of justice at all. He explains how every person has a conscience and if it is always ignored by the individual and set aside to abide by an unfair legislator’s decisions, then why have one at all (Thoreau 138)?

Is a conscience sole purpose not to direct us in the “right way,” the ways of our morals, and our views on what is right and what is wrong? Isn’t it our flashlight when we are in the dark; it helps us remember our values in time of confusion and disarray? I believe so; I agree with Thoreau in that the government, at times, is too over-bearing and controlling. I do not agree to his extreme that there should not be a government at all, but I do believe if the government lightened up and let its people speak out and decided what laws are just the world would be a better place. I have realized from this reading that again there needs to be a happy medium in government; for there is a time for force and strict guidelines, and a time for letting go and having faith in the citizens.
Works Cited

1. Thoreau, Henry D. “Civil Disobedience.” A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College
Writers. Ed.Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. pp 133-158.