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Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government" was created in part of the vote that would abolish slavery and eventually lead to civil war due to conflict of this vote. The notion of what the 'civil' government is defined as is both extensively defined yet shows barbarism that even continues to this day. With the coming election of the US, and specifically the candidates, one may examine exactly what kind of person is needed to become president after such a role model as President Barack Obama.
Out of most presidents in the last 30 years, Obama has come closest to "settling the much-vexed questions of the day", as Thoreau describes, of the present day. While unable to resolve these issues due to the republican government surrounding him, Obama still has brought these issues to light and with reasonable solutions examined what can be done in order to solve these problems. Even his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, has had a great impact of America's greatest troubles and concerns, such as child obesity. As well, the Obamas have followed, more so than any other American government before them, to use their power over the people without controlling the people, as Thoreau examines "(the government) can have no pure right over my person and property but what I (the people) concede to it." This comes to question what the next president would do in this source of power; would they try to abuse this ability and go beyond what should be allowed, or even examine the problems of the everyday person? Bernie Sanders would be a gift to Americans, Hillary Clinton a close substitute as she has been in the white house before, but Donald Trump; that is someone to vote against giving power to due to these reasons.