The trend of the 1990s has long since been reversed, and everywhere democracy is in retreat. Strongmen set themselves up above the law in country after country. Even in established states like the United Kingdom, plutocrats are slowly eroding trust in institutions and elections through means such as well-funded TV channels and newspapers. Maybe this is a worldwide phenomenon, a Force of History, if such things exist. But before we surrender to it entirely it’s worth recalling one thing.
Once you put your King, your Caesar, your Fuhrer,above the law, then everything is ultimately his. De jure has ceased to exist; de facto becomes the only rule. Thus, no-one’s title to anything is completely assured. This is already routine in places like the Russian Dictator Putin can sequester the wealth of one rich man to and give it all to those who are currently closer to his favour. Once, Sergei Pugachev was a rich plutocrat who sat at the heart of state power. He incurred Putin’s displeasure; and his wealth in shipyards and coal mines was shared at once among courtiers like Igor Sechin and Ramzan Kadyrov. [1] Yet it is unfair to single out Putin and Russia; the same has been true of Kings and Emperors throughout history.
Nowadays the Populists clamour to throw down the rule of law wherever they can. It is inconvenient to the Will of the People, they allege. [2] In the UK, their current target is the ECHR, a minor institution that is one tiny part of the network in institutions and bodies to which all civilised states belong. Yet it excites the rage and furies of the owned media, and thereby of the nervous and excitable old men who follow them. These old men would do well to remember an old East European folk tale, which goes something like this.
“A Man and a Horse were both menaced by a Wolf. The Man said to the Horse “If we make a team, we can defeat him. With your speed and strength, and my brain and spear, we can overcome him. Here, put on this bridle and saddle, and let us ride together to destroy the Wolf.
It worked, and soon the Wolf was dead. The Horse said “now we have achieved our purpose, you may dismount, and remove my bridle and saddle” But the man just laughed, kicked his heels into the Horse’s flank and said “gee up, dobbin!”
How long is your house to be yours?
[1] Catherine Belton Putin’s People Introduction
[2] https://fullfact.org/law/daily-mail-headine-comparison-to-nazis/
#democracy #dictatorship #arbitrary #law
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