Etymology 101: Government

In the words of the world famous fictitious character, Inigo Montoya:

You keep on using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means.

Today’s lesson is on Government.

Govern:  

Relevant definitions:

• To exercise continuous sovereign authority over;especially :  to control and direct the making and administration of policy
• To control the speed of (as a machine) especially by automatic means.  Think of this like the governor on your car that tops out at 130.
• To control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of.
• To hold in check.
• To exercise authority.

Ment:

From Latin ment-, stem of mēns (“mind”).

So yes.  Another example where words have very different meanings than what we expect.  Government’s purpose is to exercise continuous sovereign authority over the mind.  To control and throttle the speed of humanity’s mental progress.  To influence and direct such progress and to hold it in check with authority (force).