Thomas Hobbes published The Leviathan in 1651. Hobbes believed that before government, humans lived in a “state of nature.” In that pre-governmental society, people were born free but violence was everywhere. In one of the most famous lines in all of political philosophy, in that state of nature, you would find ”No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
In order to get out of that state of nature, humans formed a government. The government might be dictatorial and brutal, but it would keep order. No matter how bad it got, it would be better than the state of nature. (See above.)
The day after gangs in El Salvador killed 62 people, the government cracked down. Over 15,000 people were arrested, often based on their tattoos. They can be held up to 15 days with no charges. The arrests were often arbitrary; the confinement brutal.
El Salvador is the source of many Central American refugees. Parents sometimes send their children to the U.S. so they won’t be forced into gangs. Gang members extort money from poor people, often killing those who can’t pay.
Very few El Salvadorians are upset by the crackdown. Very few complain about civil rights violations. If you were the owner of a corner grocery dealing with gangs who threaten you and rob you, and maybe worse, you would very quickly become a Hobbesian. I know I would.
No comments:
Post a Comment