Nick Arnett wrote
I cannot agree with the premise that underlies this -- that evil is "out there" and we "in here," if powerful enough, can eliminate it.
Well, how about a premise that includes people `in here'?
that some of the people who gain governmental power, whether here or abroad, are evil
(This is the old `Fall of Adam' presumption, not applied to friends and family, but applied to those who seek power successfully enough to run governments. I think one should presume that friends and family are fundamentally good. One should act with a `Fall of Adam' presumption only with respect to particular friends or family who prove themselves evil.)
If you make the premise that some of the people who gain governmental power, whether here or abroad, are evil, then you need to figure out what kind of mechanism tends to create a more or less decent government, even when the people who make it up are evil.
Or do you assume the universal veracity of the adage, "Power corrupts"? IOW, that you can elect or appoint decent people to government, but once they are in that position of power they will necessarily misuse it? Or as the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants puts it, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:39) If this is the case � that it's only "almost all" men who misuse power once they get it � is there any way to ensure that only those in that minority who will not misuse their authority will ever get to hold government office?
(As I have said elsewhere, for a government encompassing different countries, I doubt that legislatures with power determined by history and by population work well enough. Such an institution needs a third house.
Based on money, iirc what was said elsewhere? Or something else? How would you set something like that up to work? (I don't recall you going into much detail before, but if I missed a more detailed explanation, I'd appreciate a pointer to it.)
-- Ronn! :)
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