Pretentious Politics

     The use of pretentious diction serves to inform and persuade. Philosopher Henry David Thoreau writes to criticize the government from a republican point of view. Traditional anti- federalist beliefs include the policy of laissez- faire; a "hands off" government approach. Thoreau supports the strength of the people over the power of the government, which rules without morality. As a resolution the author proposes we rebel, resist, and revolutionize the "bad government" we fought to gain our independence from; the American people have the right to do so as it states in our constitution. Henry David Thoreau supports his claims with his vast knowledge of american patriotism.
    The over- all tone of his essay is broken up by patriotic hymns. "I am too high- born to be propertied, // To be secondary to control,..." (King John 5.1.79-82.-- Eds.). Thoreau uses these lines to support his statement-- men must resist their tyrannical government. He later states, "All men recognize the right to revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable" (paragraph 8). By moving back and forth between citing separate sources and using his own knowledge and opinions, the author writes to establish himself as a reliable source.
     The author also tries to establish a sense of trust and credibility by citing a more abstract source-- morality. Thoreau says, "...most legislators, politicians, lawyers, [and] ministers serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions" (paragraph 5). He implores readers to demand respect from their government. The reader is made to feel tricked, or, taken advantage of by those who hold power. The topic of slavery serves as a concrete example. It is the duty of our federal government to protect our God given, inalienable rights. Slavery however contradicts the principles within our constitution, framed by former president and republican, Thomas Jefferson. Clearly, all men are not created equal if men are still being bought and sold as property. There is little distinction between black and white within the political parties because the men of power think with a similar mind, and rule with the same desires.
     John Adams once said, "Whenever Vanity, and Gaiety, a love of Pomp and Dress, Furniture... and elegant Entertainments get the best of the Principles and Judgments of Men and Women there is no knowing where they will stop, nor into what Evils, natural, moral, or political, they will lead us". This statement backs Thoreau's ideal that "government is best which governs not at all" (paragraph 1). By using his prior knowledge and his own justified arguments, Henry David Thoreau uses prevention to persuade his audience to resist the federal government and create a lasting sense of moral patriotism upon a foundation of freedom and consciousness.