Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society. – Niccolò Machiavelli
Gandhi. He set the bar quite high for peaceful governance.
What does that mean?
This may come as somewhat shocking to some people, and painfully obvious to many others. Anyone who has been following the violence by the Syrian government against it’s own people knows exactly what this quote means.
For those of us who live in more peaceful locales, the saying almost sounds crazy. For those living in Renaissance Italy, full of Princes and other petty nobility, this was a daily reality.
It is probably also a warning to the Princes that their governments may exist independently of them, and may fight to protect it’s existance, even at the expense of the Prince. It is also a reminder to the Prince to keep the government in check for the benefit of the third element of the power triangle, the rest of society. Now doesn’t that just sound Machiavellian?
Why is being wary of your government important?
As President Gerald Ford said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” That should have sent a small chill down your spine, even if you live in a stable democracy.
Another President, Ronald Reagan, said “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’ ” While that was said in jest, in some parts of the world, it’s just not funny.
Now I’m not into conspiracy theories, and I don’t distrust the government as a whole, but power attracts both those who would use it honestly to promote the betterment of all their fellows, as well as those who are there strictly for personal gain or forcing their view on others.
Where can I apply this in my life?
For those who live in countries where elections are mostly free and mostly honest (sorry, Chicago!), all you need to do is your civic duty. By that I mean you must find out about each person you will be ruled by, and find out more about their background and temperament. Nothing is more annoying than listening to someone complain about a government that they elected, right?
For those with less enlightened governments, I’m at a loss on how to help you, or what courses of action are open to you. You know your situation far better than I, and while it would be easy for me to say what I think is the ‘proper’ course of action, it would not be the proper thing to do.
While peaceful resistance (like Gandhi) is ideal, not all governments are as enlightened as the British. Just a casual glance of the headlines around the world show that governments around the world brutalize their own people. Some will fight back in open rebellion (such as the so-called Arab Spring), others have fewer options.
Also, responsibilities play a role. If you are the protector and provider for your family, you may find it more proper to keep a low profile and try to simply survive. On the other hand, young men, especially those with few family ties, tend to be the most likely to fight, and most likely to die.
Wow, that got depressing fairly quickly! I truly feel for those who live under repressive and violent governments. Thinking of these events should help those of us more fortunate souls, to truly appreciate that we live with far safer governments, and enjoy a bit more security and safety.
But that can change, if we aren’t careful. Another President, Thomas Jefferson, said, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.” It is up to us to protect what freedoms we have from those who believe they know what’s best for us.
To use a modified version of a quote from President Jefferson, “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.” Or perhaps it is more a paraphrase, but in any case, we have seen free people fall under the sway of repressive forms of government in many corners of the world. There is no other way to remain free than to keep watch on those who would rule us.
From: Twitter, @mister_quotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/niccolomac157833.html
Photo by dbking
