An oligarchy is a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few. A ruler in this form of government is known as an oligarch.
This contrast with Democracy, which is a form of government in which the majority have a say in what is done – have a say in the setting of policy. Trust is high since the government workers are expected to (and actually do) act more ethicalyl than otherwise. A widespread practice is to give the citizens proposed referenda on which to vote; and then to put those decisions which gain majority consensus into effect. Everything is done with transparency.
A government is morally good to the extent that its citizens are continually improving in well-being and in quality of life.
In Lincoln’s day certain intellectuals were advocating for an aristocracy to run things rather than leaving it to what they refer to as 'the rabble’ to set policy. However, Abraham Lincoln who stood for democracy won out. His views largely prevailed over those of the plutocrats and plantation owners.
The main threat to humanity today is autocracy and dictatorship. Belarus, Bolivia, India, Hungary, Poland, Russia, the Philippines already have a form of autocracy. Now it is an existential threat for the United States. The current President wants to be ‘President for life.’
He came right out and said that in effect he would suppress the vote, lest his opposition could win it. He has even gone to the length of crippling the Postal Service, even though its initiation preceded the writing of The Constitution. It is mentioned in that founding document as a necessary public service!
He arranged to slow down mail delivery [so that the alternative people would have is to die from Covid-19 if they choose to stand in line to vote] for he fears that otherwise he will lose the coming election. This is how an authoritarian behaves.
The USA is facing the prospect pf becoming an autocracy …if it isn’t one already.
Let us set as a goal, and work to implement it, to apply Ethics to the political sphere. Let us make corruption a crime punishable by imprisonment.
Let’s apply Ethics to Political Science, to political affairs, to all political matters.
What do you think?