What does henry david thoreau mean by the following metaphor?

this american it has not the vitality and force of a single living it is a sort of wooden gun to the poeple themselves.
a. that the government us more like a dead man then a fun toy
b. that the government is a toy that people play with
c. that the government treats its people with little care, like a wooden toy
d. that the government looks powerful, but actually lacks any power