That wasn't blunt. That was a very kind, gracious, and self-controlled assessment of his condition.
Human beings just MIGHT have some ability to self-govern themselves IF, and that's a very big IF, if they had and adhered to a high moral standard.
Since mankind tends not to lean in that direction, external controls are not only necessary, but absolutely essential, for an orderly and civilized society to even begin to function.
A republic like we have is the best form of government to date that mankind has implemented, but the reason it is not working any more is not because it's the government, but because the people in it have gotten away from what it was really meant to be.
Humans lost the ability to govern themselves when they were given free will, and sin entered the World. As another poster put it, our form of government is based on Christian ideals and is the most decent, non-intrusive form yet developed (or up to now, anyway). Some form of government is necessary to counteract evil. And humans are by nature prone to evil. I know ol’ Hank will disagree as he doesn’t see himself as sinful, but there it is.