Re: Why Space Empires?

Peter Knutsen wrote:

David Friedman wrote:
WaltBJ <waltbj01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
For a long-term
democratic government, look at Iceland.

What do you mean? They gave in to the Norwegian Crown in 1264.

They gave in to Christian imperalism much eearlier than that. In 1000
AD, unless I'm misremembering.

It's true they had managed a third of a millenium by that point of a
very interesting society--but not a democratic government on any
plausible definition, since seats in the legislature were, in effect,
private property.

The Athenians didn't have democracy either.

I think a more sensible approach is to look at democracy as a question
of degree; some societies, in some periods, being more or less
democratic than others. (pre-democracy people will probably disagree
with me on this.)

perhaps it's better to redefine the question. What is the most workable
form of government for a band of hunter-gatherers? A small isolated
village? A larger village in constant communication with its neighbours?
A small agricultural town? A small trading town? A larger, isolated town?
A larger trading-and-agricultural town? A centre-of-civilization
town-or-city? A collection of towns and cities and villages?

What form of government would best guarantee - given the prevailing
circumstances - justice for the inhabitants? Prosperity? Feedback to
maintain favourable conditions and penalize unfavourable conditions? What
would constitute social health in the various communities mentioned above?

Etc. Etc. Etc.

If you fail to ask these questions, you wind up writing dreck.

Wesley Parish
.

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