By right, the government exists because of the needs of the people, and not in spite of the needs of the people. However, the word “government” connotes that, instead of receiving directives from the people, the government “governs over” the people. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following explanation on “government”:
The governing power in a state; the body of persons charged with the duty of governing. This may be viewed in two aspects, giving rise to two distinct senses of the word, which however often coincide in use.
a. As a permanent entity (cf. ‘the Crown’, ‘Parliament’, etc.), irrespective of the changes in the persons who hold office. Hence often practically equivalent to STATE, esp. when used attrib.
b. As constituted afresh by the appointment of a number of persons to certain official positions; in England, synonymous with ministry or administration. Often used without article.
“Governing”, in turn, means
To rule with authority, esp. with the authority of a sovereign; to direct and control the actions and affairs of (a people, a state or its members), whether despotically or constitutionally…
The word “governing” connotes “direct” and “control.” However, what is the referent of such “direction” and “control”? Is it the affairs of the state, or the people?
*** *** *** *** ***
Under a democratic arrangement, the people is supposed to tell the government what it wants, and ways of accomplishing it. The government, in turn, must disclose the cost and benefit of such action, and to get its master to agree upon the action.
However, a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for the above arrangement to work is that, the people is to tell the government what it wants. Does the people know what it wants in the first place?
A phenomenon adds negative pressure to the above question. The people, especially the younger generations, are told to excel in their studies and “things will take care of themselves”: financial success, honor to the family, domestic stability, etc. But can one tell the government that he wants those things and expect the government to deliver it? Or shall tell the government to establish the necessary environment for him to succeed? Or can he just expect the government to take care of him?
