There is an immutable law in physics, the second law of thermodynamics, that any isolated system not receiving the input of energy (work) from the outside will tend toward states of greater disorder.
Examining human history, one might suspect another immutable law: that societies will progress to autocratic rule if there is no effort (work) to resist this trend.
A recent survey concluded that over seventy percent of the world’s population exists under autocratic rule. footnote 1 This seems to be the norm these days and in the past. Republics in democratic countries throughout history represent exceptions. Why have most societies tended toward an autocratic government? There are several factors. Certainly, one is the individual’s desire for power over others. This may be a human trait, one of our “darker angels”. While this concentration of power can occasionally be ruthless, it often depends on the willingness and cooperation of people, highlighting the role of human complacency.
After the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government had been chosen. He famously replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” He seemed to understand that the natural trend would be toward autocracy. footnote 2
Why do we humans so often fall into autocracy? As previously implied, part of the answer may be compliant subjects, complacency, even indolence.
Sorry to be harsh. Here are some supporting observations:
- In the US, congress has abrogated much of its legislative role to the executive branch. Although some actions were justified during emergencies, authority was not returned to its constitutional state once normal conditions resumed.
- A large portion of the eligible population in the United States does not vote. I can see no excuse for this.
- Free press is given special mention in the first amendment to the US Constitution. Good journalism requires hard work. Though we all recognize journalism’s importance, this has not diminished the closing of local newspapers and the cutting back of others in large and small cities because of declining readership. Reading and gathering information by citizens of our society requires work. We seem to be a bit lazy in this regard. Scanning the internet headlines does not qualify as information gathering.
- We avoid civil conversations with those who may disagree. Civility requires effort.
- Perhaps we are overwhelmed with the demanding tasks of daily living, leaving little time for thinking. However, life was never easy for our ancestors, and many of them were able to accomplish much using good judgement and staying informed.
Examples in recent history of periods of autocracy (a partial list in alphabetical order). footnote3
- Burma (Miramar)
- Chile
- China (Has in recent memory had rule of a single individual)
- Germany (Nazis in the 1930s – early 1940s)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Hungary
- Italy (During Mussolini, 1930s – early 1940s))
- Russia
- Spain (During Franco)
- North Korea
- Uganda
- Venezuela
A few positive indications:
- Very patriotic older officials have recently decided not to seek reelection, realizing that intellectual powers generally tend to start diminishing after the seventh or eighth decade of life.
- Younger voters are becoming more active in politics, running for office, and being elected.
- More women are being elected to office. In my experience (and humble opinion), they seem to be generally better informed and more thoughtful.
Because of their experiences, older folks can perhaps, however, be a source of valuable information, even wisdom. Making mistakes along our journey has been an effective way to learn.
Hope for the future, though, must originate from youth. Students, for whom this blog is written, will perhaps forgive advice from a cranky old man.
It seems to me that, in many respects, leadership from my generation has failed.
As a young person, I can remember once being told, “You are rapidly becoming the type of person you will be in life. “Now at eighty, I realize that was true. As this blog was written mainly for young people, it is for them I wish to forward this message I once heard.
What qualities would you develop as you grow into the person you wish to become?
Do you wish to be reliable or hard to pin down?
Do you believe that being more flexible gives you an advantage?
Do you desire to gain extensive material wealth? For what purpose?
Do you wish to gain knowledge and, if so, for what purpose?
Do you wish for wisdom, which perhaps comes from knowledge and, if this is true for you, for what purpose your wisdom?
Do you seek to have influence, control or power over others to accomplish your goals?
How wide is your circle of care for the welfare of others?
After this exercise, we may wish to ask similar questions of those whom we have chosen to lead our country.
Having voted in every election since 1968, more often than not for the loser, I have never been disheartened until the present. I mentioned earlier the feeling that my generation has failed. My fear for the youth of this country is that some of the damage that we are now inflicting on our institutions of government, which has served us well and lasted for 250 years, may be irreparable. Nevertheless, one mustn’t lose hope. It is the young with whom hope is placed. We, who have failed, hope that you are up to the task of putting the ship back on course; the work will be daunting.
One can’t dismiss the thought that American generations of the past have done so much better. Students of history are always amazed by the founders of our country as they created a constitution for self-governance. This was to ensure that we would be a country of laws and not the subject of an all-powerful individual. They were thinking perhaps of a hypothetical person aspiring to be a king about whom a revolution had recently been fought. We have been fortunate until recently. Luck was also with us in the abundance of natural resources that were provided on this continent of North America.
It could be said that Lincoln’s words, spoken less than a hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, apply today as they did in 1863: “testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” He ends his beautiful address with “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
If this experiment of 250 years is not to end under our watch, there is hard work to be done.
Some simple advice from an old man:
Decide what is important.
Examine your strengths and weaknesses.
Strive for “better” rather than “seeking perfection”, knowing that we humans are never perfect.
Don’t be quick to judge others.
Cultivate friendships.
Do not “go along with others” when an inner voice says not to do so.
Establish a definition of character for yourself.
Never avoid asking for forgiveness.
Be able to change your views.
Do not avoid asking for others’ opinions.
Seek inner peace as a priority.
Seek outer peace for this world in which we all live together.
Try never to lose hope.
Forgive yourself.
Cycles occur. In human history, changes typically begin when it becomes clear that a path being taken is not working. These will be interesting times for young people; one hopes a more thoughtful generation will soon be coming to the fore.
1 From 247 WallSt.com
2 From the Washington Post
3 From the Encyclopedia Britanica
Science Essays for College Students 
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