Strong Government Research Paper

Words: 598
Pages: 3

Strong government is necessary to ensure the happiness of the people. Common sense suggests that if government is delegated the responsibility of a certain task, it necessarily assumes the power to carry out that task. Therefore, if government truly is, as Thomas Jefferson suggested, instituted among men to secure our most sacred rights including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is an absolute necessity that the institution is given the means to achieve this object. Whenever the power of a government atrophies to the point where it can no longer perform its duties, the rights bestowed upon individuals by Nature’s God become susceptible to egregious violation. For this reason, a strong government is not contradictory to a free society. Rather, we find that it is indispensable. …show more content…
Shortly after securing their independence from Britain, the United States adopted its first Constitution entitled, ‘The Articles of Confederation’. The text of this document conveyed a deep loathing for the vices of government, and ignored its most basic virtues. The Articles of Confederation made the fatal error of delegating certain responsibilities to the federal government while depriving it of the power necessary to carry them out. In the years after it was adopted, it became clear to most Americans that the current system of government was inoperable. Pennsylvania delegate James Wilson lamented,
“Can we perform a single national act? Can we do anything to procure us dignity, or to preserve peace and tranquility? Can we relieve the distress of our citizens? Can we provide for their welfare or happiness? The powers of our government are mere sound.” (Skousen,