Thursday, June 09, 2011

PUBLIC SERVANTS OR LORDS

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.- United States Declaration of Independence

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government EXCEPT all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. - Churchill

Like all other social animals, fundamentally human societies are structured hierarchies having concentration of power at/around apex. Aristotle argues that some men are marked out by their inherent virtues for subjection, others for rule; "the man who is by nature not his own but another man's is by nature a slave." Aristotle states that tame animals are better off when ruled by man, and so are those who are naturally inferior and materialistic when ruled by their superiors.

Monarchy and aristocracy persisted widely till late 19th century. Later on, the stage was set for the modern egalitarians, who associated justice with linear social equality. In came democracy and socialism. However, in democratic capitalist societies, people equate wealth with power and social status, which represents an individual's overall ability to control or influence other people, institutions and justice.

A hierarchical order is inherent to all societies but breaking free from this order is a man's basic instinct. The reality is that no two men are born with the same abilities. However, these inequalities, if magnified to influence justice, kindle instinct for freedom in him. So we may say, anarchy is the most preferred form of government but it is not viable. On the other hand, misuse of power is an inherent trait and to fight against this misuse is our basic instinct.