17. On Government:The Need for Government Is an Unavoidable Choice

The need for government is an unavoidable choice for citizens, while abolishing government remains humanity's noble ideal. Perhaps one day, government will become a thing of the past. Yet in this era where democracy is just taking its first steps, citizens still require government to curb unearned gains, mediate social distribution, provide welfare, maintain order, ensure fairness, and defend against foreign aggression. Only government can fulfill these societal needs of citizens, which is why citizens must reluctantly accept its existence.

Throughout Chinese history, eras of greatest public prosperity invariably coincided with periods of minimal governmental intervention. The less the government acted, the stronger the economy grew; the more it interfered, the weaker the economy became. Adam Smith's ideal economic state was realized in China as early as the early Han Dynasty through the principle of non-interventionist governance. The essence of China's modern reform and opening-up lies precisely in the government relinquishing power and reducing oversight, allowing the private sector to develop autonomously.

A government truly aligned with citizens' interests must be one that governs through non-intervention. The periods of recuperation and renewal at the beginning of each Chinese dynasty were fundamentally characterized by non-interventionist governance. This does not mean the government does nothing, but rather adheres to the principle that the smaller the government's power and the fewer its actions, the better, thereby compressing governmental actions to the absolute minimum.

Before the law grants the government authority over a particular matter, it must first be thoroughly demonstrated that this power must be exercised solely by the government to ensure the implementation of that matter benefits the citizens. If so, the government may be authorized; if not, it should not be granted such authority. Furthermore, even if a particular function has been delegated to the government, should citizens become capable of performing it themselves as society evolves, the government's mandate must be rescinded without hesitation. In short, unless a task can only be accomplished by the government, it should be carried out by citizens themselves.

A government committed to non-interventionist governance fundamentally strives to ensure citizens enjoy equal opportunities and trusts citizens to manage affairs effectively. By adhering to this principle, citizens will undoubtedly excel in all endeavors. While individuals possess varying capabilities, what citizens lack is not competence but fair competitive opportunities. By merely safeguarding citizens' right to compete on equal footing, the government can witness the miracle of a democratic nation where every talent is fully utilized.

Faced with a government they must inevitably accept, every citizen should consistently refuse blind obedience. Blindly accepting government rhetoric without independent thought and judgment is the most unforgivable folly a citizen can commit. In the Chinese mindset, there is a widespread tendency to trust government actions while distrusting private actions. This presents a profoundly ironic paradox. When an individual is not a government official, their actions are deemed private and deemed untrustworthy by society. Yet the same person, once appointed to public office, has their actions regarded as government actions and deemed trustworthy. It seems that the moment someone enters government service, they instantly become a different person. Some might argue that this transformation occurs because government officials face greater constraints, and it is precisely these constraints that make their actions on behalf of the government more credible. This seemingly reasonable explanation overlooks a fundamental issue: all individuals who enter government service and those who do not are fundamentally the same ordinary people. A person of poor character will never become virtuous merely by joining the government. Since everyone working in government and those outside it are identical in nature, what justification exists for deeming government employees more trustworthy? Whether we examine history or observe current realities, the greatest and most frequent harm to all citizens comes from the government itself—not foreign enemies, nor criminals. Once those who enter government taste power, they immediately unleash their self-serving nature and employ every means to harm their fellow citizens. Therefore, for ordinary citizens, the greatest enemy is the government. Citizens should not only refrain from trusting government actions lightly but should take every measure to guard against them.

Faced with a government they must reluctantly accept, every citizen has the right to choose whether to continue cooperating with it. In On Power, we discussed how governmental authority derives from citizens' obedience. Citizens have the right to choose whether to continue obeying government directives or to refuse them. Thus, every citizen retains the right to decide whether to maintain cooperation with the government.

Faced with a government that must be accepted out of necessity, every citizen has the right to choose to overthrow the existing government. Citizens have the right to call upon other citizens to join in overthrowing the existing government, but the methods employed must comply with legal provisions. If a nation's laws do not establish lawful means to overthrow the existing government, then that nation's government is undoubtedly evil, anti-human, and a regime that must be overthrown immediately.

In summary, when faced with a government that must be accepted out of necessity, every citizen should remain vigilant toward the government at all times. Every citizen must believe in their own strength and in the power of citizens organizing together. Do not place excessive faith in the government's benevolence, but remain constantly guarded against its potential for evil.