We should seek government leaders of caliber similar to King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. In his role as leader of the Nephites, he served his people without any material reward (i.e. income through taxation) and did not seek to elevate himself as their master.
What does it truly mean to be a Master or Servant? In a government setting, one would most likely view government leaders as the Masters and the civilians as Servants. Those that know what is best for the whole nation have become the Masters to the Servants who only wish to be taken care of in return for doing what the Masters asks of them.
Plato would say that government is certainly the answer to the pains of society. Through government, pain can be removed from the lives of the masses; thus leaving them happy. People that have experience and know the most should be the ones that lead and guide those who are still in the dark. The main assumption that he based this on is that the ones who will lead have the best interest in mind of the rest of society. Is this the method of government that “We The People” would like to put our full trust in?
Aristotle would say that through prosperity the pains of society are removed. Thus, a free market would be the master of the people. In this type of government, the common goal is prosperity. The assumption that this is based on is that prosperity actually removes pain and brings happiness. Throughout history it has become very evident that as prosperity removes many pains of survival, it only leaves people with the question of what do to with themselves. This simple, but very important question, is unfortunately followed often times by default, non-thought out actions that are self indulgent by nature.
In both of these cases, the missing link is a virtuous people. A people that seek out meaning in their lives, find principles that will help them fulfill with that meaning, and help others do the same. Without virtuous people, both of these situations will default to unfavorable results. In all actuality, a virtuous people turn the tables that make them the masters and the leaders the servants. Besides, is this not how it is suppose to be – people leading for the purpose of helping all to achieve their goals as opposed to the goals of just the few?
There is a role in which government should and should not play. It is up to a virtuous people to find this proper role of government and define how government should act. The people must figure out who is the Master and who is the Servant. No one else can do this for us other than “We The People”Â.
In the book “Uncle Tom's Cabin”Â, there is a resounding message about the relationship between the Master and Servant (or Slave in this book). It becomes apparent that there is a direct link in the relationship between the two, Master and Slave. Whatever the Master takes from the Slave, he eventually loses at least the same amount himself. It appears that this relationship is of the exact opposite nature too. As a Master gives in the true spirit of giving, giving without expecting anything in return, he will thus have increase. This is a true Master Servant – one that serves all those around him with no thought of self. This is the type of person who should be sought for as a leader in government for this is the type of person that would truly lead a family, city, state, nation, or even world.
Dana Thomas is a homeschooling father of
