What do we owe the government?

For a society to be successful, it is essential that certain rules and values are upheld. The United States was founded on the principle that the individual was best suited to govern over their own life. The federal government was to be made up of political representatives elected by the people. So in essence, the question truly becomes "what do we owe our fellow Americans?" The four areas addressed will be Civic duty, Taxes, Justice, and Service to society. It is the responsibility of citizens to ensure they uphold their obligations to society if our nation is to survive as one of freedom and opportunity. 

Civic Duty
Voting is a fundamental principle of a representative government. However, this is a much greater responsibility than just going to the polls on election day. For a government to be truly representational, the citizens must understand how the government functions and what their chosen representatives are doing. Without understanding how the three separate branches of government operate, the citizen may vote for an individual that will damage the balance of power which keeps any one branch from becoming the primary or sole source of power. Thus, it is essential that all Americans have a basic understanding of the Constitution and the responsibilities assigned to each branch of governments.

Taxes
There can be no argument that a government requires money to operate and thus, taxes are a necessity. However, government has a responsibility to the citizens to use the revenue generated through taxes responsibly and efficiently. When political figures view the incomes of American citizens as a resource to which the government has unlimited access, the principles of this nation become compromised. Furthermore, an excessive tax burden hinders economic growth. The more money taken from the citizen in taxes, the less money cycling through the economy. Corporate taxes that are too high lead to higher priced products and services, reduced profit, and the migration of businesses over-seas in search of lower taxes. If one looks at government being run like a business, they will understand that there is a balance that must be found. Just as a business must find that sweet spot where the price of their product will be low enough to sell while being high enough to make a profit, government must also recognize the balance where tax revenue and economic growth converge. Just as a business that charges too high a price for their product, tax revenue is reduced when the tax burden is too great.

Justice
This is a very simple responsibility, to abide by the law. Laws become nothing more than meaningless words if society chooses to ignore them. And yet, there may arise times when society will need to come together in direct opposition to the law. Specifically, when the law contradicts our fundamental human rights as established in the Bill of Rights. It is preferential to seek recourse through the legal system however, acts of civil disobedience have been effective is helping to overturn unjust laws or policies. Regardless, all citizens must be treated equally under the law. This is a nation of laws and favoritism due to political position or celebrity status is unacceptable and extremely damaging to society.

Service
Finally, for a society to flourish, it is essential that the citizenry stand up to serve in various endeavors. When speaking of service to society, service is most commonly thought of as military service. While this is an essential and honorable pursuit that should be encouraged of all citizens, it should be remembered that service to society is also achieved in the areas of law enforcement, legal, fire and rescue, medical, education, etc... Volunteer work is another honorable way in which to serve society. Finally, fulfilling your obligations as a citizen by involving yourself in those duties that are required to make society function. Whether it is attending jury duty, school board meetings, or town hall meetings, the health of our nation rests on the active involvement of our citizenry. John F. Kennedy said it best when he said "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

For a representative republic such as our own to survive, it is essential that the citizens be actively involved in the functions carried out by government. When the citizens become complacent, power shifts away from the people and to those who hold public office. If corruption is allowed to go unchecked, the people will find that the government no longer represents them and simply serves the needs of a select few. Furthermore, it is essential that elected representatives are not permitted to separate themselves from society so as not to live under the laws that they have put in place for the rest of the nation. Only through constant vigilance by the population can a free nation hope to avoid an eventual drift into despotism.