Viewpoint 1:
- Individuals should be allowed to live their lives with minimal government interference.
- The individual is the most important social actor and should have maximum power over his or her life.
- Government should not be a parent or “nanny” protecting people from their own freedom to choose.
- Laws that require people to wear helmets, use seatbelts, or drive without using a cell phone are all forms of government intrusion in private choices.
Viewpoint 2:
- Government should make laws to protect people, including protections they prefer not to have.
- People who don’t adequately protect themselves (wearing helmets, seatbelts) may be injured and cost everyone tax dollars for their medical care.
- People don’t have the right to hurt themselves and possibly others.
- Government must create laws that protect the public as a whole, even if those laws appear as limitations for individuals.
Which laws do you consider appropriate government involvement in personal life? Which laws are intrusive and need changing?
The state came into existence to protect/nourish life and to produce opportunities that facilitate humans to live healthier and better lives. Governments devised strategies and policies to ensure political and economic stability, which would aid political-social and political-economic progress. From the study of the origin of the state and the role of governments, we learn that concept regarding the state and role of governments changed as the political-economic realities changed. For instance, after the Industrial Revolution, the concept of state altered and it also influenced the political system. With the change in political structure, studies show, government role and policies also changed. In Western Europe, governments became more responsible, in post-Industrial Revolution period, and devised policies to improve the lives of citizens. However, in some cases, it devised policies, which were controversial and because of their controversial nature these policies became subject of debate. As a result of the debate, in the political arena or parliaments, the policies/laws got amended. Some of the laws/ policies became controversial long after their enactment/implementation, as political perception regarding that law or policy changed evidently.
Liberalism and Secularism influenced people on a large scale and shaped their views regarding particular political subject/policy and law. Also, liberalism also influenced people’s economics related perception and government’s economy related policy. Other political-economic and political-social school of thoughts also shaped the socio-political and socioeconomic perceptions, of the general public. My perceptions are strongly influenced by the left of the central political thoughts (socialism). I believe that political-social-economic system, based on capitalism, is inherently flawed and a government must play a proactive role to ensure political and economic progress, with which social progress is associated. However, a government must not allow interference in such manner that it disrupts progress and complicate matters for ordinary people. Also, it is imperative that the government defines issues appropriately and devise an appropriate policy to address the issues.
DRUG ISSUE
Drug abuse has been identified as a criminal offense, by the State, which complicates matters (I believe). I am of the view that drug abuse is a health issue and state is dealing with an issue with extraordinary harshness. The policy of State, regarding drug abuse, has increased crime, a lot of money is associated with the drug business. The government must acknowledge it is an individual’s discretion, to take health-related decisions (better or worse) health. Adults know what the consequences of particular actions are and if that action only affects them, the government should not be so harsh about such decisions.
ABORTION ISSUE
Abortion is a very complex and sensitive issue. The government policy is very controversial regarding it. In some states, an individual has the right to abortion; however, in other states, abortion is unlawful. I am of the view that once life starts to take form, inside the womb, then it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that life sustains. Aborting life, after a certain stage, must be unlawful unless it threatens the life of that person, who is carrying it (mother).
There are several other aspects of life, such as food/product regulations, in which government intrudes. However, not all intrusions yield adverse results, which is why we can infer that interfering of government is not always catastrophic. However, the government must define issue on merit and must be aware of the consequences/results of defining a subject in a particular manner. Also, the government should intervene or interfere, when it is necessary.
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