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[jack_aubrey]

The Muse asks: Which is preferable, democracy or monarchy?Men must be governed, and even in the natural world one can observe the hierarchies of greater and lesser animals. Democracy, it seems to me, must inevitably lead to violence -- one has only to recall the bloody war in America and to see what has been unleashed in France to understand that

Comments

[tribalkittykat]

War in America...grr...I am extremely unhappy with it... I agree that men must be governed. Some rulers are indeed wiser than others..I won't say much about the American ruler though...anyway...I agree with you, as I usually do:)

[jack_aubrey]

Do they have a ruler, now, in America? I had thought they had a President. But I admit that I have never paid much attention to the politics there.

[missizzy]

Well, he's still a presicent, but he'd like to be a more powerful ruler. It doesn't really matter, either way, he's simply awful.

[jack_aubrey]

I see. Perhaps the colonies would like to return to English rule!

[ladyaubrey]

Unless of course the men be represented by chosen leaders to speak with the singular leader and bring the word from below deck, as it were, not unlike a Killick or Bonden, who have the ears of many who might otherwise hold the ship hostage with mutiny and cast off chosen leader. And is not the ship at sea like a small republic where in each must work together to do their part, otherwise the ship be lost, and when enemies fire without provocation or warning, toppling the towering masts, said republic must defend itself else be boarded and taken as prize?

More ofthen than not, those below hold to the captain, because on an American ship, those in service are there voluntarily, and not pressed.

[jack_aubrey]

There is something in what you say, and I have never been the sort of captain to refuse to listen to my men. But would you suggest that the crew of the ship ought to choose its captain? And must we stop in the middle of an action to vote upon who should lead the boarding party? Ha, ha.

I imagine it is much the same for a nation. England's finest rulers have not been tyrants but men, and one woman, who surrounded themselves by educated people and paid close attention to the words of their advisors and subjects. But when the citizens of my nation and others have tried to appoint rulers who had no such authority, it seems to me that it has led to anarchy.

[mschrystalline]

"Certainly some rulers are wiser than others, and some of their relatives and the men they appoint to posts make one wish that governors were always chosen for their merits, not their inheritances"

You made some good points Captain. I believe that you govern your men on the Ship well. I have read of your Travels,Captain, and I am delighted in the way that you treat your men.

[jack_aubrey]

Well, Stephen might not always agree with you, but I appreciate your interest, madam. *smiles*

[raining_cloud]

Intriguing question. I must say I had to mull over my response for some time. I'm not sure I think monarchy is preferable, because a monarch can easily forget what is best for the people. However, I agree that democracy is not necessarily preferable, because it can easily turn sour. But democracy is not the only form of government to turn sour, is it? The American uprising came about because of a monarchy, did it not? And the French? To be honest, I think neither form of government is preferable. I believe a good form of government has yet to be discovered. Even so, I do believe that most men and women must be governed. I think many of the people who must be governed do not want to be governed, and that is where uprisings come from. So my question is, is there really a form of government that can listen to the people and do what is in their best interest? I think, perhaps, government works best in fairly small groups, like your ship. I believe that you, Captain, are a good leader. I believe you manage to balance kindness

[jack_aubrey]

There are some who would say that the American uprising came about because men did not want to pay their taxes. It is certain that selfishness and rebellion have too often been a problem...why, I suppose that Stephen might suggest a ban on drunkenness as a start! But while government may not be perfected, I could not agree that all the governments of the past have been failures.

[raining_cloud]

Certainly not all past governments are total failures, but I wouldn't say any of them have been successes.

[captainbarbossa]

Your words put me in mind of a drollery I once saw performed in a Barbados burlesque. 'Twas a grand little puppet show, with marionettes that marched across the stage, their painted limbs jerking to and fro, their slack jaws clacking as they spouted out all manner of tripe. The threads binding them were so fine, they were nearly invisible; watching those wooden dupes, ye could almost believe they moved and spoke of their own volition, and not at the fickle whims of the puppeteers above.

You and yours are just like those puppets, mate. When King and Country yanks on your strings, ye dance and sing as prettily as ye can. And yet you're sadder than puppets by far, for you've the ignorance to think your will is your own, and your words not crammed down your throat by the men holding the threads.

(OOC: Please don't mind my disgruntled Barbossa; this is just his way of showing Captain Jack how much he's missed being taunted with apples and reminded of his own vileness. Really. *cough* In any case, the mun here greatly admires your

[jack_aubrey]

I suppose you pirates must feel very free at sea, until you are faced with the bigger guns and stronger men of the King's Navy. And it has always interested me to see how many pirate captains were killed by their own crews in struggles over the prize money.

My will is not entirely my own to do with as I please, nor would I wish it to be. I am in a service that protects good people from men like you. Tell me, how free do you feel with a pocket full of gold and no way to enjoy anything upon which you might spend it?

[captainbarbossa]

*glares* Freer than a fool with his britches so far up his arse, he -- *trails off into raging gibberish* And damn ye, this is your doing!