I borrowed the title from the
works of Thomas Paine, English-born American political activist, philosopher,
political theorist, and revolutionary, who said: “Society in every state is a
blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its
worst state an intolerable one.”
اضافة اعلان
Most people are
endowed with common sense; some just do not use it, accepting that things are
right just because others declared them so.
I am neither
pointing fingers nor referring to any specific situation, just mulling over the
benefit of common sense, if any, to a political system, which can only be
consolidated if individuals are made to feel that they have a stake in it.
No state with
vague principles and regarded as corrupt in practice can hope to retain the
allegiance of those who do not share the benefits of this perceived corruption.
The world is not ruled by reason but by passion, and when a person is desperate, he/she is ready to smash everything in the vague hope that a better world may arise out of the old.
Economic problems
and political radicalism often go hand in hand.
When economic distress reaches a certain point, the citizen no longer
uses his/her political judgment to serve the public good, but rather to help
himself/herself.
The ideal of
political freedom pales before the ideal of economic equality. Once the feeling
of inequality has entered the hearts of the majority, a system is at best
crippled and at worst doomed to failure.
It is useless,
after that, to tell embittered people that their political leaders are not
responsible for their plight, and equally useless to warn them that a revolt
with its attendant disorders would not improve their lot, rather, hopelessly
compromise it.
The world is not
ruled by reason but by passion, and when a person is desperate, he/she is ready
to smash everything in the vague hope that a better world may arise out of the
old.
I am talking here
about people who had a certain notion of what life is and what their roles in
life should be, only to realize that their situation is in total contrast with
the ideal. Often they are people who have been pushed aside and
marginalized. Should they continue to be
neglected, and left needy?
It is common sense
that anyone who helps people out of their depression and lifts their spirit,
even if only for a short time, will win them over.
The writer is a former private adviser to HRH Prince El
Hassan bin Talal.
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