Do We Need Government?

As a society, we generally need someone or something to lead and organize us, establish standards of behavior and business, mitigate interpersonal conflicts, administer justice to wrongdoers, and provide the basic necessities of life to individuals who lack any other means of support. In an ideal country, the government (whether central or decentralized) would fill all these roles, in addition to some more specific functions unique to that nation. However, nothing in the human world is perfect, and governments are no exception. Very few governments are fully capable of serving all of their nations' needs, and most overserve in certain areas while underserving in others. The balance between what's feasible for the government and what's needed by the citizens must be constantly adjusted. Ultimately, society could function without government, but it would be a lot more dangerous and unpredictable: corporations might utilize unethical business practices to gain a competitive edge in the market, at the cost of their employees' wellbeing; education would vary wildly in quality, and could be used to brainwash children; poor people would die of curable diseases because they couldn't afford healthcare; deception and lying would be commonplace; the economy would be too unstable to function properly; and social inequalities would be exacerbated, with the wealthiest and most populous demographics becoming dominant and having the most influence. Eventually, a disgruntled individual or group may take control of the country by force, and establish an imperialistic monarchy or dictatorship. And there you have it: The lack of a stable and responsible government would lead to anarchy, which would almost inevitably lead to a power struggle resulting in someone claiming rulership (thus establishing a government, and effectively starting the cycle all over again if the new government fails).

 

The unfortunate reality is that as I was editing this essay, I realized that all the things I speculated would happen in the absence of good government have already happened, even in places with relatively stable and capable governments. Let this be our reminder that no matter how well a government runs things, it's ultimately up to all of us, as the citizens, to build and maintain a healthy society.