Guest Author - Cara Newman
In a matured political system, the government has been a constant force in managing the intricate nature of a society. Through the evolution of our civilization, many political systems have been developed around the world. From monarchy, communism, to democracy, the consistent force that drives all political system is the claim of “stability”. Whether or not a political system truly delivers justice, every society requires a central governing force to ensure its ability to function as a group and the physical and economical survival as a whole.
Even in a primitive society, a government is in force. Be it a tribal council, or simply influences from paternal or maternal bloodlines, there is a need for a society to enforce its basic rules. When one is caught stealing, certain punishment is carried out in the hope that it does not happen again. Why is punishment so important in a society? Without penalty, rules of a community disintegrate. It results in a breakdown of the stability, and no society can survive in constant chaos.
In addition to stability, a government is served as a central agency for economic regulation to ensure the survival of the group. Most modern societies have long evolved from the bartering system to complicated economic structures. Without a central regulatory agency, no complex monetary system can be established. A strong nation requires a robust fiscal structure as it generates additional resources to further empower the nation.
In a highly evolved political system such as the democracy, citizens are granted with well-sounded stability in terms of economic freedom and justice. In addition, citizens in a democratic nation are approved with additional choices such as the freedom of speech, personal rights to ownership, and fair trials in comparison to the principles in a dictatorship or a communist nation.
However, these additional freedoms do not overpower the need for security and safety among the citizens. Our current economic crisis in the U.S. is a good example. The topic of economy is not only the central debate among the presidential candidates, it is also a very real threat to our citizens’ standard of living.
Stability, economy, and justice are some of the fundamental values of government. However, how well one government achieves its function is up for another debate. As we march forward to embrace the upcoming political changes, take a moment to ponder what government really means to you and what changes you would like to see in the future of our nation.