Does Government Policy Affect Survival? A Critical Analysis

Does the Government Kill Its Citizens?

Jeicol Bonilla | College ELA

The Role of the State

The Social Contract: Citizens surrender some freedoms for protection.

Monopoly on Violence: The state is the only entity permitted to use physical force.

Key Question: When does protection turn into harm?

Direct Government Actions

Governments have the legal authority to end life in specific contexts. This power is often debated ethically and globally.

Capital Punishment

State-sanctioned execution for crimes.

Law Enforcement

Use of lethal force in policing.

Military Action

Warfare and border defense.

Global Capital Punishment Trends (Recorded Executions)

While many nations have abolished the death penalty, several states continue to exercise this ultimate power. (Source: Amnesty International/Representative Data)

Structural Violence & Negligence

How government inaction ends lives

Healthcare Access: Lack of funding leads to preventable deaths.

Infrastructure: Failure to maintain roads/bridges or provide clean water (e.g., Flint).

Economic Policy: Poverty induced by policy choices reduces life expectancy.

Humans Live Matter

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts the Right to Life as fundamental.

Global Impact on Citizens

Trust Erosion: Excessive force destroys the bond between state and public.

Fear & Compliance: Authoritarian regimes use violence to ensure obedience.

Radicalization: State violence often creates cycles of rebellion and further conflict.

Cause & Effect: Policy to Outcome

CAUSE: Militarized Policing

Implementation of heavy weaponry in civilian areas.

EFFECT: Civilian Casualties

Increase in accidental deaths and escalation of minor conflicts.

CAUSE: Healthcare Cuts

Reducing budget for public hospitals.

EFFECT: Rising Mortality

Lower life expectancy among vulnerable populations.

Priorities: Defense vs. Health Spending

Comparison of budget allocation suggests where government priorities lie regarding citizen survival.

Key Takeaways

Government power is a double-edged sword: it protects and it threatens.

Vigilance is required: Citizens must hold institutions accountable for direct violence and negligence.

The measure of a government is how it treats its most vulnerable, not its most powerful.