Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Oz
The problem is that if you give the rich all the power, they will then use not only their own skill but the laws of the state to maintain their own riches at the expense of everyone else, and pass along their riches to their children. Later people will not be able to make much money.
Is that really a good thing?
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Please remember this is not my personal opinion, it's to make the debate more interesting.
Now to answer your question:
In Rome the rich did not automatically have the power, if they stepped out of line, they were exiled. Cicero was exiled for breaking the rules, he spent time in Greece because of his outspokenness an attempt was even made on his life.
So you have people like say Bill Gates and (I know he's English but for instance) Richard Branson and Steve Jobs making policy decisions and especially about money. Of course they make their riches and pass them on, but everyone in the country is encouraged to make their own riches. Part of the oligarchic process in Rome was that if you made it you could move into the exclusive set. The only people who were excluded were the rabble who don't really care about anything, even today, else than where their next meal or entertainment or woman is coming from, whereas the wealthy will work hard to protect their wealth and power.
So to put it in today's terms.
Because these people know the value of a good education and what it feels like to be rich, they will make really good judgments about the standards of education and the ordinary people will strive to be included in the club.
Therefore your middle class will move up the ladder of success.
A good education suddenly becomes a goal.
Because the heads of companies are already in the club, they will ant to stay there, to stay there they have to be successful, therefore business will grow.
The ordinary people running the bureaucracies, they want to get into the club so they will strive to make the requirements to get into the club, so they will make sure their bureaucracies are successful.
And the people at the bottom. There will always be people at the bottom who don't give a fig for anything so they'll stay there and sweep the streets, populate the army etc., same as in Roman times.
Why do you think governments and especially large governments that claim to be democracies don't make absolutely certain that every single member of society has a fair chance to be in the 'club', because they need soldiers in the army. Without a strong army of private wars cannot be fought. And they make war glorious by the parades, uniforms, perks, benefits etc etc, because if they told plain Mr Nobody to bring his own kit, finance his own service and come along for only a small amount of pay and lousy food there would be no army.
So even if you think you've got a democracy in America you already have an oligarchy, just take a good look at it.
OK I've done this off the top of my head, which is a bit loaded with exam info right now, so feel free to pick it to pieces.