The Role of Government in the Social and Economic Efforts of Its Citizens Research Paper

Introduction

Citizens from various countries trust their governments to ensure equal distribution of national resources. In addition, these governments are mandated to ensure that in the long run, citizens recoup maximum benefits from these national resources. Specifically, some of the major tasks that the government is expected to conduct include the provision of certain basic services such as security (in form of national and local defense), environmental protection and preservation, infrastructure construction and management, and for well-advanced states like the United States of America, space exploration. It is also the responsibility of the government to ensure justice for all its citizens. Governments achieve this through the introduction of certain policies that govern families, businesses, and religion (American Government para.14).

Over the past few decades, various governments across the globe have been highly criticized for their sincere interest in providing opportunities for their people and also in their role in providing equal justice for all citizens (Pearson para.1). The essay below is a quick investigation on the role of government in coming to determine an individual’s scope in educational or economic opportunities. We also want to explore the government’s position on justice and know- who, and the role of the government in ensuring justice for all citizens. Finally, the essay shall also examine the extent to which justice should be personalized or left for the government to deal with.

Background on King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

To gain an insight into some of the issues that affect a government’s role in its citizen’s social/ economic endeavors, a quick background on the foundational structure of Martin Luther’s letter to eight clergymen will give a revelation of the introduction of Civil Rights. Being a crusader of these rights, it was very important for King to re-address and redefine matters of civil rights to a state entirely devoid of the same (Birmingham). In his letter, King asserted that he was in Birmingham as a result of the prevailing injustice in the city at the time (The King Center para.3). In his analysis of King’s letter, Thoreau indicates that King intended to address the white audience, (specifically addressing the clergymen) on their enormous role in shifting the government’s focus concerning the racial injustice that was prevalent in the State (Thoreau para.12). by reflecting on sacrifices made by such individuals as Martin Luther King, governments have become more sensitive when handling matters that affect their citizens’ human and civil rights.

Government’s role in Individual’s Educational and Economic Scope

The government’s main role is that of creating necessary policies that will be used by its citizens as guidelines for their lives. In the case of education and the economic status of its citizens, the government should be at the forefront in creating laws that will ensure that the citizen receives adequate, necessary, and effective forms of formal education that will make him effective in the job market. In saying “citizens”, the government should consider cutting across the board. Meaning that the disabled, the less privileged, and the minority communities should be included. The “1964 Economic Opportunity Act” was designed as an approach to facilitate the betterment of the less privileged. It directly gave provision for job training, programs for study, and help for people who had the desire of starting up small businesses. The Act was formulated for both an urban and a rural setup (Clemen- stone, p.96). Another policy that was enacted was an Act for the handicapped. In this Act, free education was to be provided in some public institutions for the handicapped. In such extensions as these, the government provides lasting solutions to employment and educational problems that may face the citizens.

Government’s Position on Justice

In a nation as big as the United States, one cannot put off the government’s role in providing justice for its people. It has been believed that in human nature one has the inner desire and ability to love and be concerned about his neighbor, but that has proven not to be the case. More often than not, a figure of authority is needed to bring people into a certain perspective. The Department of Justice serves to do this on a social level. It ensures healthy forms of competition in the corporate world while keeping consumers safe from the upsurge in market prices. It also enforces laws that are concerned with immigration, nationalization and criminal activity (Longley para.1). In essence, this department makes sure that all who are found guilty of breaking laws made through parliament are brought to justice. Lawyers and advocates represent these people in a court of law. Even the government itself has its own representation in the law courts through the office of the Attorney General.

Personal versus Social Justice

Generally, Tersigni puts it that there are three types of justice. These are personal, social and supernatural justice. As far as we are concerned, the two former types of justice are a build-up of each other (Tersigni para.5). In childhood, he continues to explain that the human being is exposed naturally to certain truths: For example, stealing is wrong. Justice to him was commonly through some authoritative figure; like his parent or guardian. For some time in his life, therefore, the parents/ guardians have a role to instill some form of justice in many of the child’s situations. As he grows older, the person feels justified to do certain things while others will seem to be completely wrong for him.

At this point, some form of social justice needs to be enacted to find a common ground to control the different mindsets that have been developed. It is majorly influenced by governmental and religious bodies. A form of ethical code for the masses is established and the repercussions for going against this code are established. It is important to note that the laws that govern supernatural justice have over the years been used to create all the other forms of justice. It provides the basis for human justice in a particular community.

Conclusion

The support and enactment of Civil Rights are entirely important in the enablement of justice to be fair. Many people have sacrificed a lot to make equality reign in our modern world: Some have fought for it to the bitter death. For the world to run in a better way, justice must prevail. Making laws that govern the social welfare of its citizens is not an overnight event. It takes time and grueling effort. All the same, some form of justice must exist for humanity to co-exist.

Works Cited

1. American Government. Government enforces Basic Rules for all Economic Participants. The Role of Government U.S. 2008. Web.
2. Clemen- Stone, Susan. Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Comprehensive Community Health Nursing. Washington D.C.: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2002. Print.
3. Longley, Robert. Counsel for the people. About the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). 2010. Web.
4. Pearson. Chris. 4 Reasons a Buyer Should Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement. Muddy NewYork. 2010.
5. Tersigni. “Social Justice.” An Essay on Justice. 2005. Web.
6. The King Center. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963. n.d.
7. Thoreau, Henri, David. Rhetoric and Martin Luther King Jr.: Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream”. Article Myriad. 2010.