This attitude toward government as being anywhere between a necessary evil to an intolerable one comes from a reflection on how the American revolution was fought not for government, but for liberty from a tyrannical rule, with the establishment of the American republic being only a means to that end. This understanding of government as a means to liberty is foundational to the United States, yet is a philosophy fading with time.
I will not go as far as to say that the Founding Fathers disliked the idea of government in general, but they had a comprehensive understanding of the imperfection of all human governing systems. Although the concepts of law, hierarchy, and authority are divine, government is a human institution, which means it is imperfect. No matter how many protections and precautions one takes when founding such an establishment, there will always be some sort of corruption amidst government due to human failing.
This understanding extends to political careers. Dealing with politics necessitates the difficult task of defining and enforcing justice. Because this duty requires a high degree of virtue, selflessness, and patience, it is not an appealing occupation to those most qualified for it. Any office included under the umbrella term of “politician” is by nature a demanding job that requires sacrificing one’s own ambitions for that of the common good while recognizing that, at least in the United States, the people are their own rulers.
In his Farewell Address, President George Washington wrote: “The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to which your suffrages have twice called me, have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire.”
Washington recognized that holding a position of political authority meant being more of a servant to the people than a ruler. Because they understand it, those who are most qualified to hold these positions are usually the most reluctant to do so. However, politics is still an important job that must be done, so how did young America plan to keep its political authority and organization alive when those qualified would not volunteer?
The idea was that the smartest and most qualified members of society could perform a couple years of public service before going back to being a regular citizen and focusing on whatever path they excel in. This also agrees with Aristotle’s claim that the best citizens can both govern and be governed depending on what the society calls for at a given time. Modeled after this conception, whether knowingly or not, the American government was never meant to be run by what are now called “career politicians,” or people with no professional experience outside of politics. The people willing to sign up for that job (fully knowing it would be a lifelong occupation) are usually not the people you want holding that position for the entirety of their professional lives. Since it is a job that is easily corrupted (as it has been) into being a means for power and influence, most who hold it have acquired it for that purpose as opposed to approaching it as a way to serve the country.
This goes back to the American idea of government as a necessary evil; it’s a job requiring sacrifice that few are willing to make. It is a challenging task, but one that must be done and done well. The skepticism the founding fathers had of the government they put into motion should serve as a reminder that no matter what form government takes, those under it have a right to apply their own reason and conscience to everything emanating from political authority. Especially today, as more and more politicians are using authority as a means for power, it falls to the discretion of the citizens to decide what they will permit their government to do with the authority it holds.
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