Rousseau's theory of the social contract

Philosophy - Rousseau

ROUSSEAU: PASSAGE RESPONSE

It is not good for him who makes the laws to execute them, or for the body of the people to turn its attention away from a general standpoint and devote it to particular objects. Nothing is more dangerous than the influence of private interests in public affairs, and the abuse of the laws by the government is a less evil than the corruption of the legislator, which is the inevitable sequel to a particular standpoint. In such a case, the State being altered in substance, all reformation becomes impossible, a people that would never misuse governmental powers would never misuse independence; a people that would always govern well would not need to be governed. [Chapter 4 - Democracy]

In the most prescient portions of this passage, Rousseau articulates the precise rationale for the division of the three branches of the United States government.

Specifically, the principle expressed in the first sentence is the reason that, in this country, the legislative branch and the judicial branch of government are completely separate entities under the Constitution. As Rousseau points out, a situation in which those who make laws also enforce them lends itself to misuse of governmental authority.

Likewise, in his second sentence, Rousseau refers to another principle of government that is extremely relevant to the modern-day operation of U.S. politics.

Specifically, in the U.S., political decisions and the policies supported by legislators in Washington are, according to many critics, inappropriately subject to the influence of lobbyists. Of course, the most common defense of politicians is that lobbyists never actually receive political favors for their contributions, but merely enjoy greater "access" to voice their concerns to legislators. Obviously, this is a very convenient fiction that completely violates Rousseau's suggestion. The simple truth is that lobbyists, such as the large tobacco companies, prescription drug manufacturers, and the National Rifle

Association (to name just a few of numerous examples) contribute large sums of money to political campaigns and provide every conceivable "perk" allowed by law to legislators for the express purpose of influencing legislators to support laws that are beneficial to their causes.