Core Beliefs: Government
Why Governments Exist
Governments did not always exist! There was a time when there were no governments because they were not needed, not practical or worth the trouble! As societies advanced in size, the need arose to organize management of land, farming, trading, transportation, defense, and so on. And so, governments came to be!
Back then, governments were efficient, useful and worth the taxes they extracted from the common man! Today, governments are bloated, inefficient, no longer useful in many areas of life and absolutely not worth the taxes they extract from citizens! It is the duty of citizens to remain diligent and constantly audit the government and make the necessary changes at election time!
Back then, governments were efficient, useful and worth the taxes they extracted from the common man! Today, governments are bloated, inefficient, no longer useful in many areas of life and absolutely not worth the taxes they extract from citizens! It is the duty of citizens to remain diligent and constantly audit the government and make the necessary changes at election time!
To audit the government, requires citizens to become and remain knowledgeable about the history of governments, their purpose and their track record of actually serving their citizens as promised. This includes challenging reports the governments themselves produce!
Governments are manned by people and many times these public servants secretly create and follow their own agendas counter to the public good! By knowing why governments exist and how they are supposed to operate, can we then ensure they SERVE us and not the other way around!
Governments are manned by people and many times these public servants secretly create and follow their own agendas counter to the public good! By knowing why governments exist and how they are supposed to operate, can we then ensure they SERVE us and not the other way around!
Core Beliefs: Government
Influence on Worldview
My worldview is that I know the history of governments and I know that they exist to SERVE the common man! At all times, I have to remain diligent, work to detect when government is failing me and then take action to strategically vote for change!
I know that government at all levels, can become bloated, useless bureaucracies that are no longer able to accomplish the mission for which they were created. We are well past the time to audit and shut down government agencies that have outlived their usefulness!
I know that government at all levels, can become bloated, useless bureaucracies that are no longer able to accomplish the mission for which they were created. We are well past the time to audit and shut down government agencies that have outlived their usefulness!
Core Beliefs: Government
Why Governments Exist
To prevent misunderstandings and save myself time with explanations, I am providing common definitions regarding the ideas about Why Governments Exist. I have highlighted the areas that I relate to, the most.
Sent by you: Once upon a time, there were no governments. How did governments come to be?
Sent by ChatGPT: The emergence of governments is a complex process that evolved over millennia, influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors. Here’s a simplified overview of how governments came into existence:
- Early Human Societies:
- Hunter-Gatherer Bands: Early human societies were small, nomadic groups that depended on hunting, gathering, and cooperation for survival. These groups often lacked formal government structures, as decisions were made collectively, often based on kinship ties and mutual agreement. Leadership, if any, was temporary and based on experience, age, or influence.
- Agricultural Revolution (circa 10,000 BCE):
- Transition to Farming: The development of agriculture led to the first permanent settlements. As people began farming, they needed to organize how land and water resources were shared. This period marks the first instances of more formalized leadership, as some individuals took on roles to manage communal resources, organize labor, and resolve disputes.
- Surplus and Social Stratification: With agriculture came the concept of surplus (extra food and goods), which allowed some people to focus on non-farming activities like crafting, trade, or military. Surpluses also led to unequal distribution of wealth and the emergence of social hierarchies, where some individuals or families accumulated more power than others.
- Formation of Chiefdoms and Kingdoms:
- Centralized Leadership: As settlements grew larger, governance became more complex. Chiefdoms began to form, where a single leader (chief) held authority over a region, typically justified by religious or social standing. Chiefs organized trade, defense, and conflict resolution. Over time, some of these leaders consolidated power, and chiefdoms could evolve into early forms of kingdoms.
- The Rise of Kings and Monarchies: The leaders who managed to control larger territories and amass significant wealth or military strength often declared themselves kings, rulers with more centralized control. Monarchies emerged as early forms of organized government, sometimes hereditary, where kings and their advisors controlled laws, taxation, and military.
- The Birth of Cities and Early Civilizations (circa 3,500 BCE):
- City-States and Empires: With the rise of cities in regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley, complex societies required more sophisticated governance. These early civilizations established formal laws, bureaucratic systems, and social hierarchies to manage growing populations and resources.
- Writing and Record Keeping: Governments began using writing (such as cuneiform and hieroglyphs) to keep records of transactions, taxes, and laws, which helped centralize power and control. The famous Code of Hammurabi from ancient Babylon (circa 1754 BCE) is one of the earliest known written legal codes.
- The Role of Religion and Divine Authority:
- Theocracy and Religious Rule: In many early societies, rulers claimed divine authority or were seen as representatives of the gods. This strengthened their rule, as they not only controlled political power but were also seen as spiritually necessary for the well-being of the people. The idea of divine kingship can be seen in ancient Egypt, where pharaohs were considered gods on Earth.
- Development of Larger Empires and Bureaucracies:
- Empires and Governance Expansion: As civilizations expanded through conquest, larger empires began to form, such as the Persian Empire, Roman Empire, and Chinese dynasties. Governing vast territories required sophisticated administration, often with bureaucracies managing local regions under central authority.
- Legal Systems and Citizenship: The concept of law became more formalized, with systems of justice evolving to maintain order across large populations. In some cases, like in ancient Greece and Rome, citizenship and the participation of the public (at least for certain classes) began to play a role in governance.
- The Evolution to Modern Forms of Government:
- Democracy and Republics: Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, saw the development of democracy, where citizens could directly participate in decision-making. Rome, meanwhile, developed a republic, where elected representatives governed on behalf of the people.
- Feudalism to Nation-States: In medieval Europe, feudalism became the dominant form of government, where kings, nobles, and knights shared power based on land ownership and mutual obligation. As feudalism declined, particularly after the Renaissance and Enlightenment, the concept of the modern nation-state emerged, where centralized governments exercised authority over defined geographic areas.
- Modern Democracies and Constitutional Governments: By the 18th century, Enlightenment ideas promoted the notions of individual rights, the separation of powers, and the rule of law, leading to the creation of constitutional governments, republics, and democracies, which aimed to limit the power of rulers and involve citizens in governance.
In Summary:
Governments emerged out of the need for organized leadership, resource management, conflict resolution, and defense. As human societies became larger and more complex, formal institutions of power evolved, from tribal chiefs to kings, and eventually to the nation-states and democratic governments we recognize today. The process was gradual, shaped by economic changes, social hierarchies, military needs, and religious ideologies.
Governments emerged out of the need for organized leadership, resource management, conflict resolution, and defense. As human societies became larger and more complex, formal institutions of power evolved, from tribal chiefs to kings, and eventually to the nation-states and democratic governments we recognize today. The process was gradual, shaped by economic changes, social hierarchies, military needs, and religious ideologies.