Only individuals can desire and act. The existence of an institution such as government becomes meaningful only through influencing the actions of those individuals who are and those who are not considered as members.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
My concept of government's role in people's lives is that it is limited but legitimate, and essential when people have nowhere else to turn.
A government of, for and by the people, requires much from the people.
By nature, every individual has the right to govern himself; and governments, whether founded on majorities or minorities, must derive their right from the assent, expressed or implied, of the governed,, and be subject to such limitations as they may impose.
No government can help the destinies of people who insist in putting sectional and class consciousness ahead of general weal.
We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique.
A government can do only what is feasible given the political and economic context.
Democratic institutions are based on a reality of human nature: that those with power, however benign or even noble their intentions, will do what they can to keep it.
Institutions - government, churches, industries, and the like - have properly no other function than to contribute to human freedom; and in so far as they fail, on the whole, to perform this function, they are wrong and need reconstruction.
An institution is beyond any individual. It breathes and lives on its own and always will.
The only thing that makes change possible is the idea of developing some kind of institution, because the institutions will survive individuals.