Analysis on Thoreau's Ideologies

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Analytical Essay

By Garett Madu

 Henry David Thoreau was a man of individualism, and democracy, quoting in an essay entitled Civil Disobedience, “The government that governs best, governs least.” The quote shares the idea that man is capable of self-government, and shuns the idea of any over imposing power that may decide what is best for the people, rather then relying on the people themselves to follow the laws laid out. Thoreau shows with the quote the deep belief he has that man is perfectly capable of doing the right thing for the greater good of the nation. Even still, he does not neglect that idea that a higher power is needed in order to keep balance and the people in line, during times of negligence and hardship.

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  While many believe democracy to be an excellent example of a fair, open system of government, the argument can be fairly made to testify against it. Democracy works in the idea that everyone believes they are important. As long as everyone believes this, they do not mind taxes or laws they did not necessarily vote for, so long as the power they did vote for had a say in favor for it. The truth of the matter, as one could say, is that democracy is just a great illusion. A curtain to shade the eyes of the public ...

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