"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for it." These immortal words from John F Kennedy exemplify the ideal relationship of the government and its people. Both sides enter a "contract," which states that the government protects and serves the people, while the people in return abstain from injustice. In reality, both sides do not necessarily hold up their ends of the contract, but they know what is expected. I noticed this theme throughout the different readings and the rhetoric shows that the government serves the people, but the people must be able to allow the government to be able to rule. I think that principle has lost its value because of the magnanimity of the present government, but many of the other ideals about protecting the rights of the individuals are definitely present in our government.
In American democracy, people elect representatives to government who will serve in public office to work toward new reforms that will improve the betterment of society. In Patrick Henry's speech at the Virginia Convention and the Declaration of Independence, both authors discuss the course of action if a government has reached a point of injustice where action must be taken. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson states, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness" (Jefferson). It is the responsibility of the government to keep themselves from abusing their power and abducting the basic unalienable rights of the people. If they fail to do so, the people have an obligation to amend the government by reestablishing their own government that is fair and gives each individual their god-given rights. Due to the possible consequences, the government becomes obligated to dutifully serve their people and make decisions that will benefit and enrich society. In order to ensure the government's status, the people must help society and be able to work with the government to continue to make strides.
The people of the United States have lived under the same principles our founding fathers established over 200 years ago and have been under the jurisdiction of the same government for the same amount of time. The same government has established laws that build the foundation of our lives. It is our obligation to abstain from injustice and obey the laws the government has bestowed upon us. The government is obligated to pass laws that protect the well-being of Americans and with those laws comes an obligation to the people; obey these laws or their will be consequences based on the severity of your actions. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security" (Jefferson). Jefferson states that the people's opinions should also have input in the implementation of laws, if a law threatens their unalienable rights, they have the right and the obligation to stand up in protest. I have experienced this firsthand. Recently large nationwide protests of the new Stop Online Piracy Act and the new Protect IP Act have began to take national prevalence. Many major websites, such as Google and Wikipedia, blacked out their website to spread awareness and have their users protest the new government bills. It is the people's duties to do whatever they can to prevent injustice of government.
Citizen's and the government's duties act like a contract and a balance, they both must contribute to ensure that their livelihoods are protected. They also have obligations to mend any wrongs that may arise from the opposing side. By reading these pieces and understanding the rhetoric of the content, I notice that many of their ideals are based off checks and balances. If the government is wrong; the people fix it. If the people are unruly; the government must intervene. This helps society understand the principle that people must be cooperative and the government must ensure the safety of their people. With these established documents, both sides must understand the contract they have entered and must keep up their end.
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