Can Lockean Thought Secure The Consent of the Governed?
Court L. Farrell

According to John Locke, there are two ways in which a citizen (or someone wishing for citizenship) can consent to their government once they leave the state of nature. These two ways, "express" and "tacit" are both intriguing concepts spurned on by Lockean thought. This paper hopes to provide an adequate definition for these two concepts and then follow the aforementioned principles by analyzing each one briefly.

The concept of expressed consent is very simple to understand. This can be achieved through a formal declaration of loyalty to the country. This, of course, forever binds that individual to the country they declare for the entire existence of either their natural life or that of the country (whichever may disintegrate first). Of course, when comparing this to the United States, this type of consent is currently only found in the naturalization process of immigrants. They must swear allegiance to the country before becoming a formal citizen, but it is imperative that this process should also be necessary for non-naturalized citizens.

The reasoning behind this is very sound. In fact, it can be believed that most immigrants hold a stronger loyalty and patriotic nature for the United States than the majority of those born and reared there. This can be more readily understood by analyzing the countries from whence these immigrants come and the subsequent lack of freedoms that currently exist there. If all United States' citizens were held to a vow of allegiance, they would hold a more patriotic viewpoint of their country and would thus be more willing to fight for their cause. There, of course, would be no governmental backlash if a citizen chose to not participate in such allegiance-swearing (any sound political mind is aware of the horrible nature of the Alien and Sedition Acts), but at least the concept would work towards a greater good.

The second concept is that of "tacit" consent. This principle follows what can be described as a "free-rider" problem. Most people simply live in the state and enjoy the benefits and thus are considered to have given their consent to the government to impose laws and restrictions upon them. This type of consent, in my opinion, is what causes many great problems in the United States. The analogy to create a better understanding would be described as thus: a teenager who pays for his own car is more likely to take better care of it, drive it more safely, and achieve a greater role of responsibility for both private property and financial understanding. Applying this to the tacit concept is easy. If you simply enjoy the benefits without exhibiting a sworn allegiance to a country, then perhaps your respect dwindles on that notion.

When one gives his consent to something, it should be that of a verbal or written declaration, and in doing so, he owes a greater deal of responsibility for the country's protection, well-being, and overall prosperity. Such notions were not uncommon during World War II, when patriotism in the United States was the highest it had and still has ever been. Therefore, it is safe to assume that tacit consent creates more problems than it ultimately solves, and although this concept is rarely applied to the systematic assumption of problems, it can be well noted that it plays a large role in the lack of patriotic enthusiasm exuberated by the United States.

Thus in conclusion, it is essential that the citizenry of the United States owe a specific allegiance not to an oppressive freedom-limiting one-world government, as is the case with the United Nations, but to that country which ultimately gives them their freedoms and rights. In doing so, the citizenry owes an obligation to their country for a sworn allegiance bound by a formal declaration. Such an adherence would increase patriotism and the overall common good of that country, ultimately diminishing unpatriotic protests and discourse, not through the evils of government intervention, but instead from the choice of a patriotic public.