Stephen wrote:
> We could always try a dictatorship, a benevolent one of course. Any
> volunteers? :)

It actually works out fairly well if the leaders are interested in 
helping the people and go on to pick others with similar desires. Unlike 
hereditary rulers, if your emperor can pick five or ten likely 
candidates and train them from children, then pick one to take over that 
he thinks will be most beneficent, it seems to work out well.

The problem is it all falls down when you get a nasty in. It's bistable: 
either good or bad.

(I'm thinking of some of the chinese and japanese emperors, for example.)

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

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