Difference Between Government and Society - Essay Sample

Introduction

In the first section of the document, Paine has pointed out misconceptions that writers have had in relations to their definitions of government and society. As a result, readers have equally had to confuse the two elements due to the little, or sometimes none at all, distinction in meaning. Paine (3) also identifies that other than having different implications, the two terms have differences in their origins as well. According to him, whereas society is a product of wants, governments, on the other hand, result from wickedness. Again, whereas a society breeds positivity, a government suppresses people's vices, thereby promoting negativity. What is a takeaway from this section of the document is the irony - people expect a state under a government to live a better life than the non-governed states.

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Origin of Government by Kings

The author of the document believes that government by kings originated from the Heathens, and spread by Israelites who copied the culture (7). Through governance under kings, the writer claims that the devil has successfully invented the promotion of idolatry. Ideally, in every social set up led by a king, people tend to exalt the king, hence regarding him as superior against others, and lauding him more than he otherwise deserves. In support of his disapproval of governments by kings, Paine alludes to Prophet Samuel and Gideon who equally condemn such governments.

Roles of a King in a Government

Kings only remain relevant in a society if his government stays furthest from a republic (12). However, in some cases (like in England), governments become corrupt due to the influence of their crowns - they use the crown to have all places at the disposal of the king. This way, the king assumes powers that superseded even other arms or levels of the government like the house of the commons. Opposite to the public's expectations on a nation like England, kings abuse their offices but manage to get away with their mistreatments since they are technically above the laws of the land.

How Current Life Affects the Future

The writer argues that current life directly affects future occurrences. He says that activities individuals engage in not only affect them at a personal level, or just with their immediate environment, but the entire continent. To explain the idea, he gives an example of a young tree on whose trunk a pin makes engraves - when the tree grows older, the marks made by the pin gets large enough to be seen by everybody (13). Ideally, the writer communicates the fact that individual actions have far-reaching effects, beyond imaginations. He gives an example of the relationship America once had with Great Britain that led to its flourishing.

Conduct of Mother Country

Varying claims have been floated concerning which nation between Europe and America is the mother or parent country. People expect a mother country not to harm her dependents - it should not be brutal, nor make war upon the dependents. According to the characteristics of a mother country, Britain - despite a massive claim that it is a mother country - has received blames that it has inflicted injuries onwards (14). Since time immemorial, people have fled England for safety. However, fleeing has not solved any of the atrocities the earlier migrants suffered, as their descendants still experience the same problems.

Kingdoms in Europe

Europe has many kingdoms, closely located. Due to their proximity, they are always susceptible to war (15). Whenever war breaks between England and other powers, America too feels the effect due to business relations it has with England. America, therefore, does not wish that those relations are disrupted by war but instead calls for reconciliation when war breaks. The writer feels that even the Almighty did not wish to place territories close to one another, so he placed America some distance from Europe. He also regards a local physical location to provide a home, safety, and friendship to its inhabitants.

Source of Justice for the Continent

Paine debates that British has no sole responsibility to bring justice to the continent. Considering the level of demand of activities involved, it is inconvenient to charge Britain with a task to ensure justice for everyone (17). Also, Britain is distant from other territories. Therefore, it is ignorant of the other regions, and cannot conquer and govern them. However, the writer suggests colonization would be possible only when applied on isolated islands.

Isolation of British

Nations have turned their backs on the British, leaving her on her own as they prosper (22). The nations are working hard to ensure that they cut their links with British - to Europe, it is a stranger, while Asia and Africa have expelled her, and it already has a warning from England asking her to leave.

Writer's Remarks

Independence can be affected in three basic ways namely; people's voice, the power of a military force, and the actions of a mob (22). This is despite the fact that soldiers in military must not necessarily be citizens of a country for which they fight. But, in a case where the legal voice of the public results to independence, then the resultant constitution becomes the noblest of the three options. Here, the writer is primarily advising on the best way to ensure that a government fulfills the will of the people.

Writer's Conclusion

Paine concludes that by stressing that for America to realize freedom and independence, it requires good citizens, brave friends, and support of the fundamental rights of humanity (34).

Work Cited

Paine, Thomas. Common Sense: 1776. Infomotions, Incorporated, 1776.