Importance of Government to Humanity

James Madison's comment in The Federalist Papers saying that "if men were angels, no government would be necessary," though not the most flattering vision of humanity, is an unbiased and honest viewpoint. Time and time again, it can be seen that humans do have a darker side that is repressed, in part, by morals, societal constraints, and, to a lesser degree, by the government, whatever type of government that may be. Thus, through historical examples, fictional scenarios in works of literature, and my own experiences, I have found that James Madison has spoken the truth, no matter how severe that truth may be. Whenever there has been a lack of government or strong authority to maintain order, the stronger members of society start oppressing and exploiting the weaker ones.

A famous Enlightenment thinker and man of many talents once mused, “The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.” Thomas Jefferson was evidently one of the few people who have had a profound impact on history, and he helped lay down the foundations of one of the today's most powerful nations. His words have more than just a ring of truth to them. The role of government is not to be loved by the people; instead, the good government plays a role in repressing what can only be called the darker side of human nature and trying to create a more peaceful and orderly society. People have never loved their governments, and indeed, many of them disapprove of their government, but the fact of the matter is that, without government, civilization would be at a standstill. As much as people do not like to admit it, the concept of government has enable...

... middle of paper ...

...hough many people are not as satisfied with governments as they would like to be, some form of government, no matter how primitive, is necessary to maintain the humanity of a society and to protect many of the citizens who might not be able to do so themselves. Madison’s view of government as a necessity to shield humans from themselves is a truthful, albeit blunt, depiction of the human race. If people were indeed perfect and the world were Utopia, there would be no need for government because there would be no heinous crimes such as murder or arson or theft. However, in actuality, humans are not, have never been, and probably will never be perfect beings, and the world in which humanity lives is not paradise. Hence, it is clearly evident that humans need government to ensure a safe, satisfying life that allows for the prospering and continuation of the human race.