From: "Jim Sharkey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > A forum I frequent has been having a discussion of how one would > describe the political system of the United Federation of Planets. > It seems to me to combine traits of two systems I generally don't > think of as compatible, that is almost a sort of democratic > communism. I'd be interested in seeing what other people thought, > especially since I think most of the folks here are more politically > and SF-ally savvy than this other group. > Assuming that democracy and communism are oposites is false. Democracy is a system of government, whereas communism is an economic model. The reason the two are usually incompatible is because the people of a democracy generally don't trust the government with un-checked power, and, it follows that they don't trust the government with management of land and resources either. If land and resources were managed by the democratic process as well, there is less likelyhood of distrust, so it could theoretically be achieved. Michael Harney [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
