:: blame the extended gestation.... ::

:: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 ::

From Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond...

"chiefdoms introduced the dilemma fundamental to all centrally governed, nonegalitarian societies. At best, they do good by providing expensive services impossible to contract for on an individual basis. At worst, they function unabashedly as kleptocracies, transferring net wealth from commoners to upper classes."

He also notes the 4 rules Kleptocrats use to gain support from the populace

1. Disarm the populace and arm the elite.

2. Make the masses happy by redistributing much of the tribute received, in popular ways.

3. Use the monopoly of force to promote happiness, by maintaining public order and curbing violence.

4. Construct an ideology or religion justifying kleptocracy.

Chiefdoms characteristically have an ideology, precursor to an instituionalized religion, that buttresses the chief's authority. The chief may either combine the offices of political leader and priest in a single person, or may support a separate group of lkeptocrats (that is, priests) whose function is to provide ideological justification for the chiefs. that is why chiefdoms devote so much collected tribute to constructing temples and other public works, which serve as centers of the official religion and visible signs of the chief's power.

Is the Bush administration a Kelptocracy? Are the tax cuts a popular way to redistribute tribute? Is the philosophy of preemption an attempt an attempt to maintain public order? Is terrorism an ideology justifying the Kleptocracy?

:: Jim Nichols 9/14/2004 01:33:00 AM [+] ::
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