Assignment Due 12.10.13.

"You know that it was Jefferson who said that the best government is that which does as little governing as possible, which exercises its power as little as possible. That was said in a day when the opportunities of America were so obvious to every man, when every individual was so free to use his powers without let or hindrance, that all that was necessary was that the government should withhold its hand and see to it that every man got an opportunity to act if he would. But that time is past."

   This part of the passage stands out to me, because it's amazing how our ex president can put into words and change the perspective of the words of a previous president. Times have changed is what Woodrow Wilson is saying. While I personally believe that Jefferson wasn't incorrect to say that, I also don't think Wilson was incorrect to challenge his statement. I do believe a government that does as little governing as possible is the best government, because ideally that implies that we as a society are making sure things are handled for ourselves as opposed to trusting the government to handle things for us. But in a time where everything is so fast paced, it's hard for that idealism to ever come about, and we're living in a time that back in the day, was probably not even dreamed of. Technology and progression have taken us so far, and if we couldn't govern ourselves back then, it's unrealistic to say we can now. But the fact that they're both not wrong, is a beautiful thing. 

 So I chose this passage for that reason. It's amazing to see how one president's philosophy can be correct but unrealistic, and a future president acknowledging that very statement, and admitting that it is highly unlikely, because he knows the times we live in and he knows, that we will always need to be governed. And speaking from the point of view of the president, I'm assuming that he knew why he said, exactly what he said. It's not like me, saying that, without all the power in the world. It's an amazing feeling reading a passage such as this.