Whatever Happened to Justice Ch 30

Origin of Government: A Critical Perspective

• Thomas Jefferson believed individuals should be informed, not deprived of power.
• The commonly-held belief that governments were created voluntarily through social contracts is false, according to historians and anthropologists.
• Robert Carneiro and Franz Oppenheimer dispute the traditional narrative.
• Governments, historically, arose from acts of conquest by groups of barbarians (gangs) who then established themselves for their own gain.
• Tax collection is more like a raid in disguised form, rather than providing services as previously justified. The provision of services is used to legitimize forced taxation.
• The provision of services such as schools and courts is a strategic tactic to maintain power.
• Governments use force, often hidden, to achieve their objectives.
• America's founders viewed political power as a corrupting influence.
• John Adams: "Fear is the foundation of most governments".
• Thomas Paine: "From such beginnings of governments, what could be expected, but a continual system of war and extortion?".
• Carnegie's observation: "A close examination of history indicates that only a coercive theory can account for the rise of the state."
• Oppenheimer's statement: "Everywhere, we find some warlike tribe of wild men breaking through the boundaries of some less warlike people, settling down as nobility and founding its State."
• The historical evolution of government, from feudal kingdoms to modern states, retains its fundamental predatory nature.
• Royalty, arising from conquest, was often associated with immense wealth and power acquired through force and theft.
• Castles were strategic headquarters used for the concentration and enslavement of conquered populations. This practice gave rise to the idea of kings having divine rights to dominate others.
• The practice of political power corrupts is prevalent.
• The government's initial focus on the justice system enables it to control the application of force, making it difficult for legitimate forces to operate.
• Leaders are often unaware their actions stem from the institution's inherent predatory nature.
• Many people instinctively distrust government, yet were taught the opposite in their upbringing.

Bureaucracy and Problems

• Bureaucrats prioritize job security over problem-solving. They benefit from the problems they claim to solve.
• William Simon: Bureaucrats "have a vested interest in not having problems solved." Their jobs depend on the continued existence of problems.
• Jefferson's statement: An honest individual will likely not find pleasure in wielding power over others.

Quote Examples

• George F. Will: "Being elected to Congress is regarded as being sent on a looting raid for one's friends."
• George S. Kaufman (said in a Wall Street Journal quote): "For crossing the street to speak to you and discovering it was not you...twelve dollars."

Additional Thoughts

• The concept of the "good government" is often a delusion and history does not favor the belief that governments can reform themselves.
• The original intent of the government's establishment can be contrasted to its nature.
• Governments in their nature are inherently predators and attempts to make them "good" are futile.
• The U.S. government evolved from British feudal origins (European heritage).

This quiz explores the historical origins of government and the critical perspectives on social contracts and political power. It discusses the views of influential thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, Robert Carneiro, and Franz Oppenheimer on how governments arose from conquest rather than voluntary agreements. Additionally, it examines the use of force and fear in maintaining authority.