Second Treatise Of Government By John Locke

First, Locke would likely object to Article 1, which preserves “the traditional distinction between the three orders of the state,” as this is a form of social hierarchy that is inconsistent with his belief in the natural equality of all individuals. Locke argues that “all men by nature are equal” and should not be “subjected to the will or authority of any other man”(Second Treatise of Government, Chapter II, Section 4). In Locke's view, individuals have the inherent right to their natural freedom, and no one should have authority over them without their consent. This reinforces Locke's rejection of the King’s Speech as it upholds social hierarchies which undermine the natural equality of individuals.

Additionally, Locke would likely disagree

Locke argues “no government can have a right to obedience from a people who have not freely consented to it” and that governments can only legitimately tax to the extent that they use the revenue to protect the natural rights of their citizens (Second Treatise, Chapter II, Section 222). Therefore, taxation without consent is a violation of natural rights, the government's power to tax is derived from the consent of the governed and that excessive taxation without representation was a form of tyranny. Locke argues that the people have a right to be free from arbitrary power, and that their (property) rights must be protected by the government. He suggests that the government can only legitimately tax to the extent that it uses the revenue to protect the natural rights of its citizens. This implies that any taxation beyond this limit would be unjust and could be resisted by the

Locke asserts that “whereever law ends, tyranny begins” implyinh that the government must be transparent and accountable to the people, as any action that exceeds its authority or harms the people's natural rights would be illegitimate (Second Treatise, Chapter XVIII, Section 199). Article 5 promotes transparency and accountability in government finances by requiring the table of revenues and expenses to be made public annually, it ensures that the people have access to information about how their tax money is being spent.

However, Locke may disagree with Article 3, which allows the sovereign to borrow up to one hundred million in case of war or other national emergency without the consent of the Estates General. Locke declares that the legislative cannot “extend further than the common good” and that the laws must be established by impartial judges (Second Treatise, Chapter IX, Section 135) Therefore, the government cannot legitimately tax or borrow without the consent of the governed, as it would violate their natural rights and harm their