Life In 19x19

Hello folks,

Which one of the systems of government you think it is best - The Democracy or The Absolute Monarchy?

The absolute monarchy is a system of government that allows a single person called a monarch to take control of the entire nation. His voice is louder than the others, and he can do whatever he wants - no one has the right to say anything to him. He can confiscate your property in one day, without the right to dispute his will. He can also kill you while standing before him. But he can also make a lord from a peasant and give you boundless domains just like that, if he thinks you are worthy of such posseions.

I think the absolute monarchy is the most useful thing to a single nation.

In the democracy, the things are exactly the other way around - the power belongs to many people, and you always have the right to dispute any decision. It gives you more freedom, and some other stuff.
This question has been discussed ever since the raise of the mankind.
What do you think?

Stefany93 wrote:Hello folks,

Which one of the systems of government you think it is best - The Democracy or The Absolute Monarchy?

The absolute monarchy is a system of government that allows a single person called a monarch to take control of the entire nation. His voice is louder than the others, and he can do whatever he wants - no one has the right to say anything to him. He can confiscate your property in one day, without the right to dispute his will. He can also kill you while standing before him. But he can also make a lord from a peasant and give you boundless domains just like that, if he thinks you are worthy of such posseions.

I think the absolute monarchy is the most useful thing to a single nation.

In the democracy, the things are exactly the other way around - the power belongs to many people, and you always have the right to dispute any decision. It gives you more freedom, and some other stuff.
This question has been discussed ever since the raise of the mankind.
What do you think?

I think that each system is only beneficial given a very specific set of enduring conditions. Otherwise each system will fail.
The conditions can be, among others:

1) For Monarchy: good will of the Monarch - he cares about the country rather than about his own interests.
2) For Democracy: the education and awareness of the people - so that the decisions they make follow reason and common sense rather than whoever has more money to shout louder.

The world has seen failures on both sides, as well as some successes (although these were much less permanent than the failures).
If the conditions above are not met, I think that Democracy can be the lesser of the two evils because it has much more inertia so the damage is spread over a much wider time period. And also - within the Democracy there will always be forces pulling for the good, even if in minority, which will help. In Monarchy, if the Monarch is bad, that's that.

Anyways, what I say is an extremely simplistic picture. I don't really think that a pure Democracy or Monarchy is physically achievable. We always operate somewhere inbetween.

PS. there are other viable systems as well, you know, with their own issues... its not only between these two.

Stefany93 wrote:Hello folks,

Which one of the systems of government you think it is best - The Democracy or The Absolute Monarchy?

The absolute monarchy is a system of government that allows a single person called a monarch to take control of the entire nation. His voice is louder than the others, and he can do whatever he wants - no one has the right to say anything to him. He can confiscate your property in one day, without the right to dispute his will. He can also kill you while standing before him. But he can also make a lord from a peasant and give you boundless domains just like that, if he thinks you are worthy of such posseions.

I think the absolute monarchy is the most useful thing to a single nation.

In the democracy, the things are exactly the other way around - the power belongs to many people, and you always have the right to dispute any decision. It gives you more freedom, and some other stuff.
This question has been discussed ever since the raise of the mankind.
What do you think?

absolute monarchy is the can be the best choice but given gready human nature it usually fails.
democracy can never be optimal given the fact that there are more dumb people than smart people.

conclusion: i think given that 2 choices democracy is lesser of two evil.

Quoting H.L. Mencken, "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."

I prefer a Republic. Where everyone is free to determine their own course and destiny. Not subject to the whims of either one person (monarch/dictator) nor a majority (congress/parliament). With a simple (elegant) set of laws for the sole purpose of maintaining order (not individual control).

Words familiar to all Go players.

Cloud E Head wrote:I prefer a Republic. Where everyone is free to determine their own course and destiny. Not subject to the whims of either one person (monarch/dictator) nor a majority (congress/parliament). With a simple (elegant) set of laws for the sole purpose of maintaining order (not individual control).

Words familiar to all Go players.

Well, republic has pretty much the same problems as Monarchy.
It assumes that the ruling group has the best of the country at heart.
Also, I am not sure you have really that much influence over your own destiny.
Depends on the laws in place and on the willingness of the ruling group to listen to you.

I don't think there is a good system out there.

Folks, please read the guidelines at http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewto ... f=5&t=1006, in particular the part about no political threads.

Thanks
JB, Admin

Helel wrote:...
Our Monarch has spoken.

Nope, merely one of the aristoi.

I actually do not care too much about the government system, as long as the state is under the rule of law.

Joaz Banbeck wrote:Folks, please read the guidelines at http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewto ... f=5&t=1006, in particular the part about no political threads.

I actually thought this topic was abstract enough that it might slip under the radar, but I guess not? The OP did not ask about any current political situation; simply asked almost a philosophical question about political systems.

Well, under democracy there is no corruption, and cities cannot be incited to revolt, but the senate makes it much harder to go to war. Under monarchy you can declare war on who you please and the military can be used to occupy cities to prevent civil disorder. However the inherent corruption means a large empire will just fall apart, so in general I prefer democracy. My overall favourite form of government is one based on religious fundamentalism, because everyone is happy.

Oroth wrote:Well, under democracy there is no corruption, and cities cannot be incited to revolt, but the senate makes it much harder to go to war. Under monarchy you can declare war on who you please and the military can be used to occupy cities to prevent civil disorder. However the inherent corruption means a large empire will just fall apart, so in general I prefer democracy. My overall favourite form of government is one based on religious fundamentalism, because everyone is happy.

Religious fundamentalism is proven to be the best follow up to democracy, once you obtain a tech advantage.

Oroth wrote:Well, under democracy there is no corruption

Is this a joke?

Too much black and white thinking. Nature exists in a dynamic tension between extremes. Integrating the extremes of democracy, monarchy and autocracy; while living in that dynamic tension would be a better balance. The only organizational system that I know which directly addresses this is Holacracy, see: http://holacracy.org/resources/organization-evolved