Information Related to "Good Government and Politics"
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These days, political elections are dangerous business! Besides dividing people, family and friends along party lines, as is often the case in the West, politics in some countries brings persecution, violence and even genocide.
Even in the United States, issues like the war in Iraq, skyrocketing oil prices and a weakened economy divide the country as it prepares for its presidential election this November. And while apathy toward politicians is rampant in many Western nations, developing countries such as Kenya, Myanmar and Zimbabwe are often in fear during elections because of intimidation, violence and even killings.
Regardless of where one lives, leaders generally seem far more interested in acquiring or maintaining power and prestige than in serving people and meeting the true needs of the people who elect them! It is so sad. The question is: Will it get any better?
Ideally, the purpose of government is to maintain security and public order to provide fulfillment and happiness. Those outcomes sound great, but how many governments in the world are able to reach these lofty goals? Basic security and a semblance of order are provided in some countries, but fulfillment and happiness are rarely, if ever, the result of today's governments.
While most would-be leaders recognize the need for some kind of "change" in their country, they can only make hollow promises to provide improvements and reforms if elected. Yet virtually all leaders fail to come through on their campaign promises! More seem to be interested in getting elected to power than in solving the real problems of their people and providing meaningful and service-oriented leadership.
A classic book on government, Today's Isms by William Ebenstein, is a great college textbook that discusses the types of government that most of humanity lives under. In reading his book, the differences between the basic government structures become very clear.
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