I don't remember where I heard it, and I don't know if it's true, but supposedly in antiquity there was a civilization where judges when they overturned a ruling did so in the public square with a rope around their neck. The idea being that you don't overturn precedent unless the public really wants you to.
Point being, history provides us with many interesting ways of completing this sort of ruler/ruled feedback loop that for some reason we consider ourselves too "civilized" to use. Which ultimately leaves us with no feedback loop at all except "burn the whole thing down and start over". Interesting how that works.
Which ultimately leaves us with no feedback loop at all except "burn the whole thing down and start over".
I forget where I read it, but there's a cycle with governments. It wasn't Plato but I think some other Greek or Roman political theorist. It goes monarchy -> oligarchy -> democracy-> repeat.
Monarch calls the shots, he gets replaced by the elite, their rule devolves into demagoguery and mob rule, and then the inevitable chaos causes a strong-man to step in and bring monarchy back and the cycle begins anew. Saw that cycle and I see it a lot now. Course iirc it was more descriptive than prescriptive so go figure
Proposal: Every election should have a referendum attached: Should the incumbent be executed for treason?
Might make politicians remember who they're supposed to be serving.
I don't remember where I heard it, and I don't know if it's true, but supposedly in antiquity there was a civilization where judges when they overturned a ruling did so in the public square with a rope around their neck. The idea being that you don't overturn precedent unless the public really wants you to.
Point being, history provides us with many interesting ways of completing this sort of ruler/ruled feedback loop that for some reason we consider ourselves too "civilized" to use. Which ultimately leaves us with no feedback loop at all except "burn the whole thing down and start over". Interesting how that works.
I forget where I read it, but there's a cycle with governments. It wasn't Plato but I think some other Greek or Roman political theorist. It goes monarchy -> oligarchy -> democracy-> repeat.
Monarch calls the shots, he gets replaced by the elite, their rule devolves into demagoguery and mob rule, and then the inevitable chaos causes a strong-man to step in and bring monarchy back and the cycle begins anew. Saw that cycle and I see it a lot now. Course iirc it was more descriptive than prescriptive so go figure