In the beginning, there was man. Living a solitary life with a simple focus on survival, food and shelter, he thrived and was happy. Finding a mate, having a few kids and developing a family life expanded this blissful existence. (albeit a little on the “roughing it” side by today’s standards – no A/C in the cave!)
But with his basic needs satisfied, his instincts for socialization resulted in the formation of small groups or tribes and the trouble began. Anytime a group of people coexist, a need for some sort of order develops. Someone must be the chief, leader, decision-maker, protector and in this setting it was usually the guy with the biggest club that seized that position. Thus, the first politician was created and the idea that “He who has the power, controls the populace” began.
As population growth continued, tribes turned into villages, villages grew into towns. Chiefs became lords and big clubs gave way to small armies who provided protection from aggressive neighboring groups that had leaders seeking to increase their power and wealth. Sometimes those armed forces turned their attention inward to matters of controlling the populace, collecting taxes and stemming any actions that the lord might deem contrary to his wishes. The power of these politicians was often absolute.
But the unquenchable thirst for more power continued and inevitably, conquests broadened the size of these small isolated principalities into kingdoms and eventually countries with lords becoming the subjects of kings, emperors and the like.
At some point in this expanding pyramid of control, it became evident that there was a problem brewing for those at the apex of power. These all-powerful rulers had expanded their domains to the point where the shear number of those being ruled became an obvious threat to the survival of those few who exercised their power.
Revolts and revolutions began to unseat rulers who exercised their power in an unpopular manner so the once all-powerful potentates had to adjust their approaches to, at the very least, give the impression that they were fair to their subjects. The concept of something like the, “Will of the people” began to evolve.
Often bodies were established like courts, parliaments, senates and the like to provide systems of law, order, governance and the sense that citizens would be heard in the quest to maintain the nation and quell the seeds of revolution. The power was still overwhelmingly controlled by a very few but the public perception of a fair and benevolent leadership could be conveyed to mitigate the discontent.
In the 21st century, we continue to be locked in the condition of power resting in the hands of a very small minority. All measures to alleviate this eternal situation have been circumvented effectively by inventive individuals over centuries with the obvious objective of maintaining their power.
Perhaps it is the nature of man to follow leaders. Perhaps it is the nature of leaders to seek power over others. Perhaps this is an inevitable aspect of man’s existence and an unalterable facet of human nature.
So is there anything new in the continuing effort to improve the system of government that the public is generally fed up with? To understand the next innovative idea to eliminate corruption and reduce the concentration of power visit improvegovernment.org and join the movement.
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