Interesting topic. As rightly members mentioned above, people in our 3d sts world are ‘demanding’ to be governed. Its ‘easier’ that way-no need to make an effort themselves in order to create optimal society structure.
Here is a parable Demon Cratius (i could not find an english text version-made a google translation):
Slowly, the slaves walked one after another, each carrying a polished stone. Four lines, each one and a half kilometers long, from the stonecutters to the place where the construction of the fortress city began, were guarded. A dozen slaves relied on one armed guard warrior.
Away from the marching slaves, on top of a thirteen-meter man-made mountain of polished stones, sat Cratius, one of the high priests; for four months, he silently observed what was happening. No one distracted him, no one, even with a glance, dared to interrupt his thoughts. Slaves and guards perceived an artificial mountain with a throne on top as an integral part of the landscape. And no one paid any attention to the person, now sitting motionless on the throne, now walking along the platform on the top of the mountain.
Cratius set himself the task of rebuilding the state, strengthening the power of the priests for a millennium, subordinating all the people of the Earth to them, making them all, including the rulers of states, slaves of the priests.
One day, Cratius went downstairs, leaving his double on the throne. The priest changed clothes, took off his wig. He ordered the head of the guard to be put in chains, like a simple slave, and placed in a line behind a young and strong slave named Nard.
Looking into the faces of the slaves, Cratius noticed that this young man had an inquisitive and evaluating look, and not a wandering or detached one, like many others. Nard's face was either concentrated, thoughtful, or excited. So he's hatching some plan of his own, the priest realized, but he wanted to be sure how accurate his observation was.
For two days, Cratius watched Nard, silently carrying stones, sat next to him during the meal and slept next to him on the bunk. On the third night, as soon as the command “Sleep” was received, Cratius turned to the young slave and in a whisper, with bitterness and despair, uttered a question addressed to someone incomprehensibly:
“Is it going to be like this for the rest of your life?”
The priest saw: the young slave shuddered and instantly turned around to face the priest, his eyes shining. They sparkled, even in the dim light of the burners of the big barracks.
“It won't be like this for long. I'm thinking of a plan. And you, old man, can also take part in it,” the young slave whispered.
- What's the plan? the priest asked indifferently and with a sigh.
Nard passionately and confidently began to explain:
“And you, old man, and I, and all of us will soon be free people, not slaves. You count, old man: for every ten slaves there is one guard. And fifteen slaves who cook food and sew clothes are also watched by one guard. If, at the appointed hour, we all attack the guard, we will defeat it. Let the guards be armed, and we be in chains. There are ten of us each, and the chains can also be used as weapons, exposing them to the blow of the sword. We will disarm all the guards, tie them up and take possession of the weapons.
“Oh, young man,” Cratius sighed again and, as if indifferently, said, “your plan is not well thought out: the guards who are watching us can be disarmed, but soon the ruler will send new ones, maybe even a whole army, and kill the rebellious slaves.
“I thought about that too, old man. We must choose a time when there will be no army. And this time is coming. We all see how the army is being prepared for the campaign. Provisions are being prepared for a three-month journey. So, in three months, the army will come to the appointed place and enter the battle. In the battle, she will weaken, but she will win, she will capture many new slaves. New barracks are already being built for them. We must begin to disarm the guards as soon as our ruler's army enters battle with another army. It will take the messengers a month to deliver a message for an immediate return. The weakened army will return for at least three months. In four months we will be able to prepare for the meeting. We will be no less than the soldiers in the army. The captured slaves will want to be with us when they see what happened. I got it right, old man.
“Yes, young man, with a plan, with your thoughts, you can disarm the guards and defeat the army,” the priest answered already encouragingly and added, “but then what will the slaves do and what will happen to the rulers, guards and soldiers?
- I thought about it a little. And while one thing comes to mind: all who were slaves will not become slaves. All those who are not slaves today will be slaves, - as if thinking aloud, Nard answered not quite confidently.
- And the priests? Tell me, young man, to the slaves or not the slaves of the priests, when you win, will you rank?
— Priests? I didn't think about that either. But now I suppose: let the priests remain as they are. They are listened to by slaves, rulers. Although it is sometimes difficult to understand them, I think they are harmless. Let them talk about the gods, but we ourselves know our own life, how best to live.
...second part for some reason is not being translated decently - i found youtube version of the text.
