Dear Herbert:
You wrote: We largely agrees -- if you'll look at my original message,
you'll see I said "best government",
> not "best general philosophy of government".
I think we are stumbling over the word "best". I look at the term "best" as
being mutually beneficial to all involved. On that one word I still have to
disagree, there is nothing good about a dictatorship. However; if one were
to replace" best" with "efficient" then we could agree. Dictatorships are
efficient because no opposing point of view is entertained or tolerated
therefore things get done quickly, and even brutally. However; Efficiency
is also an embodiment of pragmatism where in the outcome is the only judge
of the methods used to get to a particular point, regardless of who gets
hurt or stepped on.
Vance Wood.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Herbert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Vance Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: Facsimeles etc.
>
>
> > I cannot believe that anyone would possible believe that a dictatorship
> > is the best form of government.
>
> My world history book says that a priciple reason for the demise of
> ancient Greece was the indecisive nature of their semi-democratic
> city-state ("polis") governments, in the face of onslaughts from
> surrounding nations with strong leaders.
>
> It also says that one of the primary acheivements of civilization's cradle
> (Mesopotamia) was techniques (religious support, tax, laws, law
> enforcement, ...) for leadership of a single powerful king.
>
> > dictatorship, the two terms are mutually exclusive, the concept is only
> > a pipe dream.
>
> Good point. Power corrupts. Both Shakespeare and Jesus thought along
> these lines, and I dislike authoritarian bigots as much as anyone, I'm
> sure.
>
> > what principle or force is in place that would preclude the rise of a
> > malevolent dictatorship as a successor to the previous regime?
>
> Nothing at all. In fact, this happened many times in the succession of
> Roman emperors (good: Diocletian, bad: Nero).
>
> We largely agrees -- if you'll look at my original message, you'll see I
said "best government",
> not "best general philosophy of government".
>
>
