The Most Misused, and Most Misunderstood Word in the English Language

 by Chuck McGlawn 04/28/2016

Now what are the chances, that the MOST misused word and the MOST misunderstood word would be one and the same? Well, they are. And the word is [wait for it] government, yes, government.

Simple Definition of government

• : the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc. [Read “etc.” in that definition as County, City, Homeowner’s Association and Household  Government.]
• : a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc. [Read “etc.” in that definition  as County, City, Homeowner’s Association and Household Government.]
• : the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc. [Read “etc.” in that definition as County, City, Homeowner’s Association and Household Government.]

Please note every time the word “government” is used without a modifier, it is being misused. You see there is a DC Government there are State Governments, County Governments, City Governments, Homeowner’s Association Governments, and Household Governments. But everyone just goes merrily along saying just government without any descriptor or modifier.

   I was asked one time, ”What form of government do you prefer?” My answer was, “all of them”. On the DC level, I prefer a republican form of government. The purpose of government is to protect all peoples’ natural rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is what we are supposed to have. Within a State, I would accept a Representative Oligarchy Where four, five, or more people from a pool of experts are elected to head certain aspects of running a State. City Government could embrace some elements of democracy, making sure that individual rights could not be ignored. For households, I would accept only a Dictatorship. “You will be home by 11:00 pm or your driving privileges will be suspended for a week”

   How did we get a republican form of government in DC? At the end of our War for Independence England gave up all claims to the Americas. That converted 13 British Colonies to 13 separate countries or independent governing entities. The Treaty of Paris, “Acknowledging… the thirteen states, to be free, sovereign, and independent states, and that the British Crown and all heirs and successors relinquish claims to the Government, property, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof”. Wikipedia

   If you search out early facsimiles of the Declaration you will see, “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,”. 

https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/StoneDeclaration960.jpg?maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1200&autorotate=false

You will, of course, find others where the word united will have an uppercase U they are the later versions.