Thoreau remarked that “that government is best that governs not at all.” Your thoughts?

Question

Thoreau remarked that “that government is best that governs not at all.” Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Extremely idealistic and impracticable.  If the members of our society actually respected the rights of others it might work, but everyday we see the evidence that it doesn't happen.

Every time you see a news story about a swindler, a fraud, a murder, a child molestation, or a burglary you are seeing the evidence that mankind isn't ready for the "government that governs not at all".  

Even people who are generally law abiding sometimes have disputes that need to have an outside judge (Think divorce) Government isn't just those old fogies in Washington DC, it's also the cop on the corner, the child welfare agency, the hiways you drive on and the schools that your children attend.

Answer 2

As a market anarchist, I say, "Rock on, as long as you don't hurt anyone or their property."

Answer 3

sounds good in theory. That is what communism was

all about. It will never work. People need a leader and

someone to point the way in society.  History shows us

again and again that only when people band together as a group can they accomplish anything. All you have to do

is looking at the city states of Greece who spent a lot of their time fighting to see that everyone just had their only little

patch to look after in the USA we would all be in trouble.

Answer 4

Too generalistic. So according to the remark, an anarchist and dummy government in a banana republic should be the best!!

To stretch it further,

--that traffic inspector should be the best which does not  inspect the traffic at all !!

--that army should be the best which has no soldiers to fight at all !!

--that teacher should be the best who doesn't teaches at all !!

--that college principal  should be the best that doesn't comes to college at all !!

--that Bishop should be the best  who doesn't attend the services at all !!!

----- ---- ---------- and on and on and on-------------   -------------  

Actually this sentence has been exploited by the capitalists for their purpose.

The remark  was said for those governments that were too indulgent and interfering for the proper functioning of the nation. It was this over interference which is detested not the governance per se.

Answer 5

Are you sure he didn't say "the government that governs least governs best" otherwise you have anarchy, instead of smaller government, which is a great thing....

    After consulting the Wiki, I stand corrected. I did not realize how much of a anarchist he was. :(

   Anarchy is not good, too much chaos and violence would result (humans will be humans).

Answer 6

Truer words were never spoken.

Answer 7

Thoreau wanted to get the people to start thinking for themselves, and begin to support themselves.  He wanted the people to not have to rely on what the government gave them and told them to do.  He was a smart guy.  He knew what he was talking about; that the government is too controlling and many people don't think for themselves.

Answer 8

That is essentially what many libertarians say today.