Thoreau

I found Thoreau’s reading to be very long, and hard to read. It seems though that the kind of government that Thoreau feels would be the most just is the kind that allows a person to have a say in their government. He states “But to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it” (Thoreau 138). I think by this he means that by being able to attain a better government, those who enforce the government should consider a person’s thoughts and let them help decide what goes into the government. Thoreau also thinks that “A government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it” (Thoreau 138). What he is trying to say is that just because the majority rule doesn’t mean that it is right, and that there can’t be justice when the government is only going by what the majority say. What about the minority? Do they have a say in anything? Though he brings up good points there is no way to please everybody. It is impossible to provide everybody with “justice”. In a government such as ours it is hard for people to agree on all the issues, that is why there are two main political parties. Even though many people belong to one of those parties many people don’t, and they vote for the candidate with the issues that they most agree with. What I don’t think that Thoreau understands, since this was written over a hundred years ago is that it is not that the minority don’t count, just at that time their vote is under powered. Though he does make several good points, and yes the minority does deserve respect, this type of government is also better than a government that is lead by a dictator.

Thoreau, Henry David. "Civil Disobedience." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. pp133-158.