LAO-TZU: Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching

On verse 57 of the LAO-TZU: Thoughts from the Tao Te Ching, there are striking statements that have such an instrumental reflection of the modern generation primarily in the view of young people. Increased prohibitions through the creation of rules in the modern world have seen people get less virtuous and seek to break the rules. The modern world especially in the United States, people are increasingly acquiring gun licenses, everyone in a bid to protect themselves, attacks have increased, and it is getting more insecure. Also, the government has increasingly enhanced subsidies of certain goods to the citizens. The same has however increased dependability on the government, and people rarely do things for themselves without expecting some input from the government. I, therefore, believe that the statements in verse 57 are visible in the current state of the United States. They are not just existent, but they have political importance in that they can be used to shape the government and the people and the government. The government has however overlooked the statements which have caused increased abuse of the law, increased gunfire and crimes and also created increased dependence on the government by industries.

Prohibition is one of the aspects that have lived in the United States both legal and social prohibition. The two kinds of prohibition are seen in the country in various ways. The very essence of democracy was to give everyone a chance to live the way that they deemed the best fit. It was however not the same for the people of the United States. Moral and legal regulations came into place shortly after the nation came into place. Some of the moral regulations are inclusive of environmental regulations, drug-use regulation and even regulation in terms of sexual engagements (Wodak 22). The very idea of making the regulations to control the people, however, has not yielded fruit but increased abuse of the moral and legal codes is being witnessed presently.

Prohibition in the United States has been witnessed in many areas. Some of the regulations that are being broken in the present day especially are those that touch on matters of underage drinking, engagements in illegal businesses, business licensure among others. In real regard, there are oversight authorities that are mandated by the government to make sure that such laws are followed to the latter. Though the oversight authorities have been functional, the restrictions that have been put in place have not reduced underage drinking or formation of illegal business among other issues (Wodak 23). Prohibitions of issues that are considered as immoral or illegal in the United States have therefore yielded nothing but more resistance from the people. It is an inherent character to oppose regulations and as such, increased prohibition and creation of regulating legislation in the country have yielded nothing more than increased resistance and loss of morals that the regulations were meant to enhance.

Across the world, insecurity is on the rise. Increased insecurity in the world, however, comes at a time when modern weapons are being made to enhance security. Increased firearms are being made across the world to safeguard the lives of people. They are made to enhance security for the people yet they are the same weapons that the people use to harm others. Increase in the production of weapons has had an impact in the United States (Pierre n.p.). Terrorism is on the rise, and many people are losing their lives in the United States. There are also increased gunfights in public areas which are claiming the lives of people. Against the trend, the government is still licensing ownership of guns to more people.

The issue of increasing insecurity in the United States is getting a matter of political concern every new day. Various political divides argue differently depending on the spectacular view of each. Former President of the United States once claimed that addressing insecurity in the nation can only happen if gun legislation is rethought of. In actuals sense, increased weapons have been witnessed in the nation are reasons enough for increased insecurity. People have greater access to guns since gun legislation in the country is making guns increasingly available to the people (Pierre n.p.). The position of the nation regarding weapons licensure is however different. Everybody believes that licensure of firearms is necessary which a fundamental reason that the weapons are increasing is and insecurity is consequently on the rise as a result. It is, therefore, true that provision of weapons increases insecurity. 

The last view presented by LAO-TZU is that increased subsidies will reduce self-reliance. The United States is one country that has been providing subsidy support to most of their customers in such an instrumental manner. The provision of subsidies is meant to reduce the cost of production to enhance the productivity of industries in the country. Provision of subsidies is such an instrumental step towards ensuring that production in the country. Increasing subsidies has not been taken for the reason that it should be taken for. Most industries in the nation believe that the provision of subsidies is an inherent right and that the government should ensure the provision of subsidies regardless (Swain 226). However provision of subsidies by the government is just a privilege that the government gives to the people and not a basic right as most industries view it. It is just a privilege that has reduced the ability of industries to meet all their costs of production.
Self-reliance has been instrumentally reduced by the fact that subsidies are always available. Due to the provision of subsidies, industries in the United States market their goods below those of developing countries an issue that has made the government believe that there is a need to ban many of the subsidies that are offered (Swain 227). An essential view, in this case, is that subsidies have caused the industries in the country to be less responsible. They have consistently made organizations to be reliant on the government such that they cannot even afford to meet their costs of production without government input.

In conclusion, the statements by LAO-TZU are true viewing them from the perspective of the United States. Prohibition of specific issues on the basis of moral and ethical bases has increased resistance and hence reduced morality is being witnessed in the country. Also, an increase in the number of availability of arms in the country has brought increased insecurity in the nation. The provision of subsidies especially to industries has made them less responsible. In that view, the statements by LAO-TZU are politically correct and have influenced the political scope of the United States practically. 

Works Cited

Pierre, Joe. “The Psychology Of Guns.” Psychology Today. N.p., 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2019.

Swain, Satya Ranjan. Trade externalities of agricultural subsidies and world trade organization. Science Publications, 2009.

Wodak, Alex. “Drug prohibition: It’s broke, now go and fix it.” International Journal of Drug Policy 23.1 (2012): 22-23.