Anarchy and the Government

The Effects of Anarchy on the Government |
Jeremiah Jonathan Johnson |
Cornerstone University |


Anarchy and the Government
???Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state; is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one??¦??? (Thomas Paine, 1776). I would like to make sure we all have a clear definition of what anarchy is, without all the propaganda that the media and other sources like to push down our throats. The Definition of anarchy in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:
* a? 😕 absence of government
* b? 😕 a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
* c? 😕 a? utopian? society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government
* d? 😕 absence or denial of any authority or established order
Just because you have anarchy does not mean that you have chaos (see definition c). In today??™s society the Government has dictated what you can do and when you can do it. Oppression of the weak and poor to profit the strong and wealthy is what the government has become. Over the two centuries that the government has been in place it has slowly grown away from the people. The Declaration of Independence even suggests that if the government is not for the people it should be removed or changed. There are positive impacts with anarchy and its effects on the government.
Many people today are unaware of what the The Declaration of Independence actually says, and with the dialog of the 18th century some people might have a difficult time in understanding it. I remember when I was in high school we were taught only the first couple of paragraphs of the constitution, and that anarchy was one of the worst abominations that existed. I believe that a little anarchy once in a while is healthy for the government. As Thomas Jefferson once said:
God forbid we should ever by twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure (Jefferson, 1787).
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the people, that they cannot possibly let everyone know what is going on, there are a lot of people. Letting us say it is alright to question the people who we put in charge to dictate our lives. If not, they will stray from what is best for the people and strive for something else.
Even the Declaration of Independence addresses the issue of the government getting out of control. The government was put in place for a good reason, to have one voice for many. The Constitution also speaks of absolute power by the government (Despotism). When that power becomes abused the people who have it become unworthy to have it. It becomes the citizens??™ right and duty to remove such tyrants and replace them with new, to help with the security and rights of the people.
The Government is controlled by politicians who need funding to run for the office. Without major financial support that is almost impossible. The military teaches you how to abide by the law of the government. Their purpose is to protect the innocent and uphold the law, while protecting and upholding the values and beliefs stated in the Constitution of the United States. The American Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis said this about the government: ???Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself, it invites anarchy??? (Brandeis, 1999). The government promotes anarchy when it will not hold itself accountable for its own actions that violate the law. When uprising happens against the government, it is because it has violated the people in some fashion, either their civil liberties or trying to remove something that they truly cherish. ???We, the people, are the rightful masters of both congress and the courts-not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the constitution??? (Lincoln,1854). Those words are from one of the most memorable presidents in United States history, in favor of a little rebellion once in a while. ???We have two American flags always: one for the rich and one for the poor. When the rich fly it means that things are under control, when the poor fly it means danger, revolution, anarchy??? (Miller, 1970). During the years our government has grown, and been weeded. When it gets large enough to dictate what you can do and when you can do it, it becomes a dictatorship. Which is a strong violation against the constitution, anarchy inevitability pursues. It is human nature to act and to stop the persecution against those that we hold dear to our hearts. The founding fathers of this country even concur, the government must be held accountable by the people for what it does or does not do. When things go wrong the government tries to blame the people, to whom they are serving (would be like blaming your boss for something you did). The people have a voice, sometimes it is just really quiet and hard to hear. When you gather the people together in one voice they are united and it is more difficult to not hear them.
Over the course of our history revolts against the government happened all the time. Some rebellions were over some things that were extremely trivial, and other times over the government trying to take away some freedom from its people. ???government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem (Reagan, 1981).
Even the Bible speaks of rebellion and how it can be bad when it is done for the wrong reasons. ???An Evil man seeketh onely rebellion; therefore a cruell messenger shall be sent against him??? (Prouerbes 17:11 KJV 1611). God helped out his disciples to go against the people in charge. Whenever his people became oppressed to the point of submission God guided his disciples to oppose their assailants. One of the most famous examples of this is Moses and his cry to the Pharaoh ???let my people go???. Moses was being rebellious against those who held power and had authority of the time. He saw actions that weren??™t right according to God, and with Gods guidance went to change it. A good example on how a little anarchy or in this case it would be called rebellion, can be good for those in power who believe that they are above the law.
Over the years anarchy and government has seen many types and forms. Opposition to those in charge has also been called by many names. In the early stages of the United States we were declared anarchists from the United Kingdom (by definition). This is what anarchy is about, not as most would perceive it. Seeing something wrong with what those in charge are doing, then doing something about it. Violence and anarchy does not have to be together, however with most opposition to changing violence almost inevitably ensues.
The government would have an uncontrollable position of power without a little reality check for those whom it is governing. ???All power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.??? (Acton, 1887). When you push, resistance is always there, part of the laws of nature. The harder you push the more opposition is there. When most people have the power they are not willing to let it go, the more power they have the more they will fight to keep it. ???I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, I must stand with him while he is right, and I must part with him when he goes wrong.???(Lincoln, 1854). That is what anarchy is about, standing up for what you believe is right. The government would disagree with that statement. But that is what it is, when you believe in something you should stand up for it. People will oppose you and scrutinize you for what you do and say. They will try and find out everything that you have and have not done in your past. Politicians do it all the time (political mudslinging). As long as you believe in what you are doing, do not be discouraged. Having faith is a key part in standing up for what you believe.
Now let us do a brief review. What effect does anarchy have on the government The answer to this question is; when done in moderation anarchy can have a very positive impact on the government. History has proven this, even with the first impressions of it being not so good. Over a period of time when the people stand up and decide what they want without the authority figures telling them what they want. With any conflict all it takes is time to heal from the after effects. A lot of people like to be lead as opposed to being the leader. Being told what to do and when to do it, will take away most of their responsibility. This also makes it easier to point fingers at others for their mistakes (Which are not a topic for this paper). When hearing the word anarchy, try and remember it is not a bad thing. When done with the good intentions of the people for the greater good. As with anything when done for the wrong reasons it can become a horrible thing. When you are analyzing the reasons for anarchy it is best to keep an open mind. Looking at the problem from both sides is of great importance, to see if it is a just revolt or just someone with a need for vengeance, yesterday is the history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that??™s why it??™s called Present. ???Man is not free unless government is limited.??? (Reagan, 1989)

Paine, T., & University of Virginia. (1993).? Common sense. Charlottesville, VA: University of
Virginia Library (page 19)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary,

Declaration of Independence. (1776)

Louis D. Brandeis. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2011, from
Web site: 

Letter written to William S Smith by Thomas Jefferson (November 13, 1787).

Zondervan (2011) Holy Bible 1611 King James Version (KJV ). Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Abraham Lincoln??™s Peoria speech (October 16, 1854)

Henry Miller (1970), U.S. author. The Air-Conditioned Nightmare

Ronald Reagan (1981) First Inaugural Address.

Ronald Reagan (1989) Farewell Address

? Acton? (1887) letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton from Lord Acton.