In "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau criticizes all forms of government in general particularly the US government. He explains, "That government is best which governs least." The government is only a mode for which people have chosen to execute their will and can easily be corrupted by the people who act through it. This is a very accurate statement. In many forms of government, people elect representatives who share similar ideas which they embody in themselves. However, the act of choosing a representative will not definitely replicate the direct ideas and consent of the general population. Here, he shows the Mexican War as an abuse of power and corruption. A few individuals have used the government as a tool and have made decisions even though the people as a whole would not give full authorization for the war.

I can relate Thoreau's idea to some issues that occur today. The...