22 junho 2008

the best form of government


I am now persuaded that the best form of government for human societies is that exhibited by the Catholic Church: an aristocracy with a man at the top with absolute, unrestricted powers (some would call it a dictatorship). I shall not base my argument on theoretical reason, but on reasoned facts:

First, the Catholic Church is the most ancient institution of Western Civilization and probably of the whole World. It lived through everything an institution can live and yet it always survived. Even by Darwin's criteria, this is an unbeatable institution.

Second, even though the Catholic Church is utterly conservative and does not actively seek popularity, it is actually the most popular institution ever: 1.2 billion voluntary adherents, more than any other in the World.

The political model of the Church as applied to a country raises at least two questions. The first question is how would the members of the aristocracy who would run the country be chosen? The answer is: the same way bishops are chosen in the Church. First note than any born-child can become a bishop and, ultimately, a pope. The aristocracy of the church is an aristocracy of merit, not an aristocracy of birth or any other (v.g., economic). Second, he must be part of the country as an act of his free will. Third, he must live a life of good works. Fourth, he must be chosen by his superiors and appointed by the supreme authority. Fifth, the supreme authority is democratically elected by his peers.

The second question is: how would the people overthrow an aristocratic government which fails to fulfill properly its functions?. The doctrine of the Catholic Church supplies the answer to this question (see here Cathecism:2242 quoted): by civil disobedience and ultimately by armed revolt.

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