Brandon Tiger December 14, 2011 1984 in 2011 In order for a society to last, some form of government must

exist. How much power is instilled into government depends on the liberties its citizens are given. When a government has too much power the people either rebel or suffer, but when there is not enough power given to a government, the society cannot function effectively and complete tasks to benefit those who live under that government. A government should be allowed the ability to enforce the laws of society without invading individuals lives or causing harm or injury to its citizens. Governments should not be allowed to invade personal lives for many reasons; one reason being that every person has a right to privacy under the constitution the right of the people to be secure in their persons houses, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue, based upon probable cause1. The idea of national identity cards is an exact threat to Americans right to freedom. Even through two world wars and a cold war when the U.S feared an enemy within the country as much as the armies inside, Americans resisted the creation of a National ID card.2 Although Americans were threatened in the past by terror and corruption, as we are today, the citizens of America still saw the ID cards unjust and unnecessary. The implementation of ID cards will increase, the collection and sharing of data among federal and state agencies, banks, transportation authorities, and credit card companies.3 So it would seem that the government is trying to evade the much easier path

Archives.gov/constitution; accessed 2010 Heather Green, Databases and Security vs. Privacy (New York: Thompson, 2007), pg. 613 3 Heather Green, pg. 614
22

and simply create an inconvenience to its citizens. If there is another method of detecting foreign aliens and terrorists, then why not go in that direction to avoid such misunderstandings that relate to taking away Americans rights? A direction such as accepting the fact that there will always be immigration and there is virtually nothing a country can do to prevent it. Blockading borders will moderate but not prevent immigration. Injustices exist throughout history and most of the time it is caused by the governments negligence or the government is directly at fault. In a time where racial segregation was legal many black people had to forfeit their constitutional rights. During this time the government did not show enough power to stop state legislations such as Jim Crow Acts. Acts that in general, legalized racism where blacks, lived bound by the iron folk ways of a segregated society, under a rigid set of anti-quated rules known as Jim Crow laws4. Dr. King stated that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere5 to express the reality of oppression. How an individual mistreated can turn into an entire population, when the government lacks in its responsibilities to ensure all of its citizens are treated equally, although we the citizens give it the power to do such activities, it sometimes fails to complete them. So how then can we make sure that the governments powers match its responsibilities? First we must identify the governments two most important responsibilities. First and foremost a government must enforce the laws created by the population, thereby ensuring all citizens are given equal treatment. Secondly government must create a neutral relationship with foreign countries, thus ensuring safety for civilians. Based upon how much power a population gives the government reflects how well the government can perform these responsibilities. If the government is not able to meet these responsibilities, its society begins to deteriate from the chaos within itself due
4 5

David M. Kennedy, The American Pageant, Jean L. Woy(Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002), pg. 932 Martin Luther King Jr., A Letter From A Birmingham Jail(New York: Martin Luther King Jr., 1967), pg. 602

to the lack of government mediation. Dr. King was forced to face a society where its government was nonexistent in issuing laws to protect all of its citizens against unfair treatment, when imprisoned in Birmingham Jail he wrote There are two types of laws just and unjust, one has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. However one has a moral responsibility to also disobey unjust laws6. It is agreeable that a government can and has legalized things that we as a society disagree with. Those laws do not change without a revolution, a movement to change such laws and this is what Dr. King did. When a government begins to invade and hurt its citizens, it is the citizens responsibility to inform the instituted government and create change as stated in the Declaration Of independence whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it7 Abuse of power can also create situations where citizens must live their lives open, without any means of privacy. The Patriot Act is an example of the governments harmful strategies which invade citizens privacy without any reasonable justification. Included within the Patriot Act are strategies such as mass deportations, listen[ing] in on lawyer-client conversations and look[ing] into your medical records.8 These actions describe the governments abilities given to them under the Patriot Act. Such actions are not only unjust they violate everything the constitution stands for. Connie Rice believes the Patriot Act is practically, Shredding the Constitution for no more safety and a lot less freedom9. Rice is simply saying that the Patriot Act is pointless since it does not accomplish the main goal, which is to secure safety within the nation. So if the government knows these acts are seemingly useless, why do
6 7

Martin Luther King Jr., A Letter From A Birmingham Jail(New York: Martin Luther King Jr., 1967), pg. 602 American Pageant,pg. A31 8 Interview With Connie Rice, NPR.com, posted 2004; accessed on 1/25/10 9 Interview With Connie Rice

they still exist? The abuse of power is clearly seen with such acts and legislations, because the citizens sacrifice their liberties and rights as an individual. The idea that the government can do all of these actions, without probable cause as long as it is under the assumption the person is a terrorist10. This type of thought is basically agreeing with racial stereotyping, which America found to be wrong in the Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka in 1954 that segregation in the public schools was inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional11. Therefore, if labeling individuals was wrong then, it cannot be classified as right, now. Governments with too much power create a dictatorship in which the citizens have no input into how the government is run and/or what it can and cannot do. A government is able to gain so much power through constant surveillance. Today, such surveillance has become obvious and more frequent. The problem with surveillance, we as a society will shift to a culture where people are under constant surveillance, they will be afraid to dissent and will fall into a culture of total obedience, which will essentially break down social progress.12 These consequences of a society with video cameras on every street, in every house are real and will happen, because a society must be conscious of what is happening in their surroundings for the simple fact of correcting its government. This is shown throughout history, a history full of laws that would not have changed without the citizens exercising their civil liberties to ratify13. For example, women did not have the right to vote until 1920, Jim Crow segregation legal until 196414 If the people were not aware that the laws put in place violated rights, those laws to protect the citizens rights would not exist. With so much power the government can create obedience

10 11

Interview With Connie Rice American Pageant, pg. 895 12 Interview with Soft Cage,NPR.com, posted 2004; accessed 1/25/10 13 Interview with Soft Cage 14 Interview with Soft Cage

within its citizens. The problem is that the government can do this with ease. With constant surveillance the government can see if the civilians are violating the law, and quickly correct them. Over time the citizens will believe the law is ultimately right and with that belief the government can create any law they want. Therefore, too much power can only lead to problems. Nazi Germany is a perfect example of how a government can abuse its power to create the illusion that it is beneficial to society when in reality it is harming its citizens in every aspect. Adolf Hitler (the leader of Nazi Germany) was, beloved by his people-not the military, even when his means were to violate the Treaty of Versailles15. The people of Hitler were behind his actions mainly because he persuading them in his direction. By scape-goating the Jewish population, Hitler instilled into the minds of the blind Germans that the Jews were to blame for the many conflicts and issues Germany was facing during that time, such as endless economic crises and national humiliation against the German patriotic fabric16. Though Hitler fixed these problems he created a sense of false hope between him and his people. Being able to, terrorize his adversaries and please, impress, and charm whom he wanted support from17, gave him the absolute power he desired and aided his plan of pure destruction amongst fellow European countries. Although on the surface, Hitler seemed great, he truly was an evil person who corrupted his country and, dragged his people into madness and led them to a shameful defeat18. When governments are given absolute power they take advantage of their opportunity, and usually lead their citizens to death.

15 16

Elie Wiesel Adolf Hitler: The avatar of fascism, Essay Elie Wiesel Essay 17 Elie Wiesel Essay 18 Elie Wiesel Essay

A government should have enough power to function effectively because without the required amount it will lack in categories of great importance. For instance, if a government did not have the power to tax its citizens it would not be able to construct necessary items such as roads and schools. Without schools the people become uneducated thus starting the cycle of broken social progress. A governments power shouldnt interfere with its citizens privacy because our government guarantees them the right to privacy as stated earlier. Going against what you promise, shows ineffective behavior and weakness within. If a government is able to accomplish such standards then it will be perfect from both the eyes of its citizens and itself

Works Cited Page