The King & The Mob

I spent a very enjoyable evening tonight having a cook up on the barbie with a few mates (it was sort of an informal stag party) followed by ambrosia and a few rounds of scum. And no we didn't top off our meal with any gross concoction (it wasn't that kind of stag do); scum is neat little card game that's very easy to play, and quite difficult to win. Whoever gets rid of their cards first becomes King for the next round, likewise the unlucky blighter who's last becomes the next rounds Scum. Then the Scum has to pay tribute to the King with their best cards (that's when it really hurts).
Of course such a game is terribly un-PC. The reigning monarch (yes, the M word) rules the roost, has all the advantages, and collects the 'firstfruits' of the peasant. A barbaric arrangement compared to our enlightened democracy. Or is it? Is that really so different to our society? Yes and no. Today, the government still takes away our produce and distributes it as it sees fit. But I hear someone saying we elected them. It was our choice. Ah. That's true. But does that really make it any better? Now, instead of rulership being sanctioned by God, by Custom or by Cunning, it is raised up by the Mob. And of course that's much fairer than the old way. Now we all have a chance to shove our oar in. Because of course, everyone is special and everyones view is valid. Rubbish. The world is full of selfish idiots, not 'basically good and intelligent people' as some would have us believe. We are no more capable of collectively forging our way to a brighter future than a crew of toddlers would be of manning a battleship. So what then? Am I advocating a return to the days of tyrants and overlords? No, not necessarily - I don't suggest trading new evils for old ones. But perhaps we'd better be little more thoughtful before we extol the virtues of democracy. It balances out our selfishnesses, and (theoretically at least) prevents one person from becoming too powerful. For this we should be grateful; but always remember: it's a poor, stopgap measure. In his heart, Mankind will always need a King.