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Re: "You rang, mortal?"
Posted By: Phil (static-64-65-138-250.mspcovdsl.eschelon.com)
Date: 2/25/2003 at 2:24 p.m.
In Response To: Re: "You rang, mortal?" (Martel)
In my view, probably the best form of government would be an Oligarchy/Aristocracy...Unfortunately, changing the current system to the one above would be quite a task...
Yes, it would be quite a task. And with good reason. Our republic was carefully designed to make any radical changes to the status quo very difficult. The idea is that in any system where the majority of the power is seated with a few individuals, the potential for progress is great indeed, but so is the potential for abuse.
No matter how lofty the goals or how seemingly thorough the selection process may seem, dictatorships and oligarchies are entirely dependant on the absolute trustworthiness of those in charge. It doesn't take much experience to know that such a thing can't be counted on. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, regardless of IQ, testing, ability, or good intentions. Eventually the seat of power would be bent to serve the will of those who control it. Even if those who control the power intended to use it for what they believe to be just causes, their own agendas would cloud the issue and the rights and liberty of the people would be in jeopardy. Such a situation would be unavoidable.
Throughout history people have tried to construct governments where through the consolidation of power, progress came at an incredible rate. And every one of these governments failed. Often spectacularly and violently. The communists, the socialists, even the Spartan oligarchists all had the noble goals of peace, unity, and equality in mind when they established their governments. And all wound up being responsible for some of the most appalling human rights violations of their time.
Spreading the power around (to everyone in a democracy, to everyone's representatives in a republic) our system ensures that change comes slowly, if at all. But it also ensures that everyone has a say in which direction that change will go. It ensures that the minority has a voice. It ensures that no one group of people can deprive another group their rights, even if they feel it's just. No one is always right, and seldom do people realize when they are wrong. Our system ensures that there will always be someone to tell us that we're wrong. It ensures us a governmental conscience.
It's far from perfect. I could go on for ages about what could be better. But it's the best we've got. E.B. White said "Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time," and I agree.
-Phil.
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