Blog 2 Rousseau and Jefferson

Rousseau and Jefferson

1.) Rousseau believes in the social contract theory. The government and the people have a give and take relationship. They both rely on each other and both are in a known contract. The government must keep the rights of the people safe and the people must be willing to follow the rules of the government set for them when they are represented correctly. Rousseau believes a direct democracy would be the best form of government. He feels that everyone who wants to have a say in the government should have the right to. In order for each person to have their natural rights protected, they have to be able to have a little control over it. Each individual represents themselves, no elected officials to represent a group of people. Rousseau felt this was the best way to make sure everyone had representation.

The closest thing to a direct democracy we have today is the government in the United States. We have a representative democracy where the people vote on who represents them. A direct democracy would most likely not work in today’s society because the population is too big that there would be no way to organize all of the people’s opinions. There are also too many things to vote on in today’s world that nothing would get done if everyone had to vote for each law to be passed. We have representatives that we feel will protect our natural rights for us. The goal of this type of government was to bring order and make it easier to rule the country but still allow everyone to have some say in what happens in their country.

2.) The declaration claims that it is the duty of the colonists to rebel against the British government.  Jefferson thought it was their responsibility to do what is best for their country.  That included getting rid of a government that did not have their best interest in heart.  Jefferson stated that a rebellion would be the only way to get rid of British rule and would gain independence for the United States.  Jefferson said the colonists had to be willing to do anything to gain their independence.  In his eyes, gaining independence justified their means of war to get it if needed.  Also Jefferson would have agreed with Machiavelli that at times, one needs to take extreme measures to get what they want.  The Declaration of Independence shows this by stating that the colonists are willing to do anything to get their independence.

I agree with Jefferson that sometimes the ends justify the means.  In extreme cases, like a country trying to gain their independence, sometimes war has to be fought in order to win.  No great victory in history has been accomplished without some violence.  We as a society get so set in our ways that humans don't like to change.  In order for some changes to happen, extreme measures have to be taken.  I somewhat agree with Lao Tzu that violence needs to be part of the last resort, but the colonists needed a last resort in order to free themselves.  I feel that is how it is with most major changes in history, they had to go to their last resort to accomplish their goals.