|
"...There's nothing but a fancy-dress parade and the blare of the trumpets. There's nothing save a minimum of readaption, a few reforms at the top, a flag waving: and down there at the bottom an undivided mass, still living in the middle ages, endlessly marking time." (Franz Fanon - The Wretched of the Earth) (16:1) Though some political systems are more civilized and responsive to man's needs than others, the very fact that discontent is so widespread suggests that all systems have in common some major defects.. (16:2) First, the political system relies far too much.. on individual leaders.. Even the best motivated of men become confused.. between their own personal interests and that of those whom they supposedly serve.. (16:3) "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." (Lord Acton - The Penguin Dictionary of Quotations) (16:4) The second.. defect in the political system is.. the inevitability of factionalism. In politics the main goal is to.. seize the reins of government as soon as possible. To do this.. build up a coalition of.. existing social groups.. to lever.. into power.. not.. into a united force for justice.. the way to obtain power is to play on the differences in society.. How often have we witnessed politicians inflaming grievances.. to serve their own ends..
(16:6)
|