This is a
very interesting article as it speaks to the ramifications of modern society and the people's ability to govern themselves.
Democracy, Birds, and SnailsLong age, before my awareness of mens' rights or the like, I came to the the conclusion that society was fucked up because it was too large for the people to effectively govern themselves. Likewise, Fred's article essentially states, among other things, that because society is large, people become powerless and gov't slowly gravitates to communism.
The problem is that the people don't know what the real problems really are, and the politicians are not accountable for their actions.
In a small town in pastoral America in days of yore the politicians lived amongst and were accountable for what they did. Their constituency was their neighbors, their druggist, their barber, their grocer. The public knew them on a personal level. They all lived in the same community.
Now, politicians live in exclusive secluded gated communities and are so far removed from the people they supposedly serve that people vote for candidates they have never met, never will meet, and essentially know nothing about ... spare a soundbite on TV or something. This
is scary.
On 'Andy Griffith', Sheriff Taylor had to perform his job with the wisdom of Solomon because those he served were his neighbors ... he had to be accountable for the exercise of good judgment. Barney, on the other hand, was totally unsuitable as Sheriff as he had poor judgment and a hang 'em high mentality. Funny thing, nowadays a Sheriff Taylor would be run out of town on a rail for appearing soft on crime. Barney would be his likely replacement because of his get tough policies.
The sad and frightening fact is society may be way too large and too fragmented for the people to ever again have any real power to govern themselves. This coupled with a Federal Gov't run amok in size and scope of influence may forever preclude our society from being anything other than ignorant, impotent, malleable pions and sheep.
