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But there can be
little doubt, I think, that if some form of Collectivism is imposed upon
England it will be imposed, as everything else has been, by an instructed
political class upon a people partly apathetic and partly hypnotized.
The aristocracy will
be as ready to “administer” Collectivism as they were to administer Puritanism
or Manchesterism; in some ways such a centralized political power is
necessarily attractive to them.
G. K. Chesterton – What’s Wrong With The World (1910)
Chesterton was right, the political class don’t care which
system they administer as long as they are the administrators. The political
class is an environment, a niche. As with any other niche it selects
those best adapted to it.
So there is no point in expecting a political party to
change the niche, rebuild it into something more democratic, spoil it for the current occupants. Why
would they? They merely want to occupy it. Such an
appealing niche too, and a staging post for so many others equally attractive.
We could call it Chesterton’s Bind - a centralized political power is necessarily attractive to them. Not
an easy nut to crack.
4 comments:
I sense there is another influence at work - grooming. Not for sex but selecting and testing employees for their ability to keep their mouths shut in the face of hypocrisy, cant and outright lying. The mechanism is the same, the offering of treats, the gentle introduction to new sins and a veiled threat should the gaff be blown. By the time those selected have a 5 bed detached and kids at private school and expenses almost anything can be demanded and will be given.
"By the time those selected have a 5 bed detached and kids at private school and expenses almost anything can be demanded and will be given."
A superb sentence - many thanks.
In the past rapid technological change has led to major structural change. When the elite can no longer can offer enough prizes and there is both uncertainty and upheaval in the middle levels watch out, as in 1789.
0a633w and Sam - I agree, although I think the effect begins lower down the social scale.
I have in mind a post on similar lines, but I don't think the issue is a popular one because most of us have to admit that we are affected by it too.
Demetrius - yes I think the middle may be where the problems are.
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