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Orwell
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15 Feb 2009, 9:59 pm

sacrip wrote:
Just about every form of government has been tried since civilization for nations large and small. The one we have is, believe it or not, probably the best.

Best by what measurement? Ancient monarchic dynasties have been recorded as lasting millennia. Democratic republics as exist today don't seem likely to have that kind of stability.


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oomogi
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15 Feb 2009, 10:22 pm

thank u i have much to ponder



bakuninmeow
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15 Feb 2009, 10:39 pm

Yeah, but don't also forget that most of those dynasties existed for centuries, if not millennia, in part, because of the relatively low levels of literacy and information-gathering and -disseminating technologies, as well as the absences of social groups like the modern bourgeoisie and the kinds of military technologies and techniques that meant that resorting to force was no longer the perogative of a relatively small elite group of warriors and their masters.

The printing press, and, much later on, photography, film, radio and television, as well as the telegraph meant that ideas could be spread and disseminated to a much larger public than the ancients, at least in most societies, could have dreamed of, the bourgeoisie(or property-owning classes, if you prefer), first in Western Europe and North America, then later in much of the rest of the world, had a solid enough economic base and identity separate from the monarchy, nobility and religious establishments of their respective societies to be able to challenge, then over-throw, those above them, and the invention and spread of firearms technology world-wide meant that anyone with access to them, and sufficient training in their use(which would have far shorter and easier than learning to fight with swords, spears and the like), could conceivably give the Big Boys a run for their money on the battlefield.

There are lots more reasons for the relative instability of political and social regimens over the course of the last two centuries, some of which I know, some of which I don't, but which would take a lot longer time for everyone to read, and me to write, so I won't go into 'em here.

But, the reasons I gave above are among the Top Ten, I think, as to why.

BTW, a hereditary monarchy is really only as good as the dynasties that run it, like in any other form of government.

There are examples of some truly brilliant kings and emperors throughout human history. There are also plenty of examples of truly terrible ones as well. Somewhere in between, as in most fields of human effort, there are also the mediocre ones.

Personally, given the relatively lack of political, social and personal freedoms found in most monarchies, especially the absolutist ones, think I'll give the monarchy idea a pass, thanks.