Government or Governance?

May 15, 2008 - 11:08am by TeGoulet

Four letters can make a huge difference in how we think about our involvement in our democracy.

To me, government makes you think about this far off body of people who make decisions for you and usually rip you off.

Governance however, makes me think about being involved and actually having a say in the decision that are made.

Funny how a little thing like that can make a huge difference.

Thoughts?

Causes:
Tags:

Comments

Kai Flores wrote on December 12, 2008 - 8:05pm:

so, you mean like the government are the body of people that makes the laws and governance is a procedure of expressing what your opinions are about the law that is made?
if that's what you mean, I think that they are just supporting each other.
you also need governance to be able to have a good government.

Mr.S wrote on November 28, 2008 - 11:04pm:

A Rose with any other name is still a rose, so "governance" is still a far off body of people ripping all of us off. It just sounds nicer I guess.

Philosoraptor wrote on November 27, 2008 - 8:22pm:

That's beautiful and true! (Of it's both, one implies the other)

I'd never thought of that before but it made complete sense. It was like something clicked.

I think our understanding of the word government has been shaped by it's use in popular culture; almost separated from it's true meaning.

Governance, on the other hand sounds more like the present progressive of govern: governing. I think the nature of the verb makes it more inclusive rather than some far-away noun.

ThePharcyde wrote on May 19, 2008 - 3:52pm:

are the letters b-l-o-g.?