For
Thoreau, a good leader is somebody is somebody who will not be corrupted even
if he is part of the government. Thoreau expressed his disappointment and lack
of trust in the government because it does not really address the needs of the
people. He thought that the government was useless and the people holding
positions on it were simply agents of corruption (Bingham 28). Thus, he wanted
the government to be abolished because it gives people false hopes that their
needs can be met and their lives can improve for as long as they trust it. The
government simply breaks the hearts and hopes of the people.
A
good leader for Thoreau is somebody who can resist the temptation of being
corrupt. Thoreau already presumed that government leaders are all unethical
because the very institution where they are working is corrupt already.
However, if government leaders can hold on to their moral standards and ethical
beliefs, they can avoid being corrupted. They will be able to do their
important roles and responsibilities to the people and make them satisfied by
fulfilling their needs. A good leader for Thoreau is somebody who knows what is
right and wrong, somebody who will always do what is right regardless of the
consequences or difficulties that could be encountered (Turner 61). A good
leader is the epitome of how a public servant must be. This person must be
emulated because even if there is massive corruption in the surroundings, the
good leader does not get fazed and continues to pursue the right path. The good
leader is willing to make important sacrifices so that the needs of the people
can be met. Because of the massive corruption in the government, the good
leader will surely stand out from the rest because he is not doing the illegal
activities that most people in the government are doing.
When
power is in the hands of the people, the injustices in society will finally
end. This is because the government does not exist anymore which is very
corrupt and self-serving. In a government setup, the people elect those who
will represent for their needs and aspirations. However, because of corruption
and lack of moral standards, they usually fail to deliver on the promises that
they gave to the people who elected them. They only make themselves richer and
more powerful while in government service, while the people in society struggle
to make ends meet.
However,
if the situation is reversed and the people are given the power to rule, they
will experience freedom and satisfaction as they already have the power to act
on their problems and improve their lives. They do not have to wait anymore for
the people in the government to address their needs and concerns (Thoreau 39).
The people themselves will find ways to resolve their problems and blame
themselves if they are not able to get the job done. In this situation, the
pressure is now on the people to help themselves as there is no government that
they can rely on for support. The people will be prepared to work hard and
achieve their goals so that their lives can be better in the long run. They
will not experience disappointments anymore over failed hopes and expectations
that the people whom they voted were not able to deliver on their promises. The
only thing that can stop the people is themselves and their fears, so this is
the best position or situation that a society can ever achieve. However,
because people also have different wants and needs, Thoreau believes that there
is also a possibility of chaos and disorderliness to happen as people become
greedier and resource become scarce.
REFERENCES
Bingham,
Shawn. 2008. Thoreau and the Sociological
Imagination. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield
Thoreau,
Henry. 2012. Civil Disobedience.
Raleigh, NC: Hayes Barton Press
Turner,
Jack. 2010. A Political Companion to
Henry David Thoreau. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky
This is a sample Essay on Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience from
smartessaywriters.com – the leading provider of reliable and affordable essay
writing services and research
paper writing services in the United States and the United Kingdom
Related Posts:
1. Essay on Civil Disobedience
Related Posts:
1. Essay on Civil Disobedience
No comments:
Post a Comment