Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] RM Nixon and GW Bush

[Stephen Montgomery-Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Mike Miller wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Jun 2005, Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:
>
> > Mike Miller wrote:
> >
> > > Seriously, I think democracy is the way.  It does require either some 
> > > degree of altruism on the part of the leadership, or a reasonably 
> > > educated and engaged voting population.
> >
> >
> > People seem so amazed when they see corruption in high places, when 
> > there is so little historical evidence that anything else ever takes 
> > place.  Why anyone thinks that democracy can be more effective than 
> > any other system in ridding us of this, I don't know.
>
>
> I think it's pretty simple.  A free press will report on corruption.  An 
> informed electorate will vote corrupt officials out of office.  A system 
> of "checks and balances" where some officials are pitted against others 
> also helps.  If we had a monarchy, for example, how would we deal with 
> corruption then?  You have one corrupt official leading everything, 
> including the military, your votes don't count and there are no checks 
> and balances.  I think it's easy to see why democracy will control 
> corruption better than monarchy will!

And it is also easy to see that democracy has not been wholly 
successful. :-)

Honestly, I think that democracy has done a very good job at fixing many 
of society's ills.  But I don't think that it is by any means perfect, 
and I don't hold it as a sacrosanct value.

> > To quote Ecclesiastes 5:8
> >
> > If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and 
> > righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one 
> > official watches over another official, and there are higher officials 
> > over them.
>
>
> I hope that isn't meant to justify corruption.  Sure, we shouldn't be 
> surprised when it happens, but we should act to punish corrupt officials 
> and reduce the rate at which this occurs.

Certainly this is not meant to be a justification.

Ecclesiastes is an amazing book, so full of wisdom and insight.  In 
relation to the verse above, I might also recommend Psalms 37 and 73.

Best, Stephen
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