Good Governance

Cleeve House

16 June 2010

What is the purpose of government?

What is it that all human beings want?

In view of the fact that all knowledge and every pursuit aims at some good, what is the highest of all goods achievable by action? Verbally there is very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement it is happiness; they identify living well and doing well with being happy.

Aristotle

People are social beings

"It would be strange to represent the supremely happy man as a recluse. No one would choose to have all possible good things on the condition that he must enjoy them alone; for man is a social being and one whose nature is to live with others; accordingly the happy man must have society, for then he has everything that is naturally good."

Aristotle

How is happiness attained?

When our desires are fulfilled. Hungry -> food -> happy Missing someone -> see them ->

happiness

The problem is that . . .

Some desires are unrealistic Some desires are immature Some desires are excessive Some desires are wrong

And this leads to unhappiness

Religions all recognize this

Paul - ‘wretched man that I am’ Jeremiah - ‘heart is corrupt’ Buddhism - all suffering caused by craving ->

whole way of life based on extinguishing craving

Paradox - fulfilment of desire leads to both happiness and suffering

Desires need to be chanelled and controlled so they bring happiness and not suffering

What are the main desires people have?

Desire to eat, sleep and be warmDesire to experience loveDesire for social position or powerDesire for knowledge Desire to worship

Structures to satisfy these desires

Human desire Social system

To experience love Family

For material things Economy

For position and authority

Civil society, politics

For knowledge and skills Education

To worship Religion

What is the purpose of government?

Defence To protect a country from invasion which

would destroy a people’s way of life and prevent them from being happy

Justice To maintain the laws necessary to create a

realm of freedom so that people can live a moral and meaningful life and thus be happy and fulfilled

What is Law? System of rules that mediates the relations

between people Creates rights and obligations “The rule of law is better than the rule of any

individual” Aristotle Creates freedom

Freedom is to have a standing Rule to live by, common to every one of that Society, and made by the Legislative Power erected in it; A Liberty to follow my own Will in all things, where the Rule prescribes not; and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, unknown, Arbitrary Will of another Man.

John Locke

Where does law come from?

Divine Mosaic law, Sharia

Custom and judges English Common law

Legislation Emperor Legislature

The family system

Fulfiling the desire for loving relationships

Family as the locus of meaning

Dwelling place of God - the family that prays together stays together

Spiritual life creates hope for the future

Sense of meaning Reason to live and

to multiply Shabbat prayer

Family as the school of love

Place for love between husband and wife

Reproduction and love between parents and children

Socialisation and education into the manners, customs and traditions of one’s community

Transmission of culture and the good way of life

Family and culture

“By far the most important channel of transmission of culture remains the family; and when family life fails to play its part, we must expect our culture to deteriorate.”

T.S. Elliot Notes towards the definition of culture, 1948

Family as an economic unit

Work together to create wealth to support family and community

Develop a sense of responsible ownership

Develop and realise creativity

Culture of giving and sharing

Family is the basis of society

Love

Life

Lineage

Family crimes

Adultery - chief cause of divorce and family break up

Unmarried mothers - every child has the right to a mother and a father

Child abuse and neglect Especially common among step-families

Neglect of parents and grandparents Government supplanting role of family in

education, health, welfare, finance

Role of government

Support traditional family Family and marriage law

Tax system Favour marriage and children

Inheritance Build up generational wealth and responsibility

Social security system should not subsidise unmarried mothers

Social services should be voluntary sector

The family is the basis of society

Familial collapse -> social collapse

Society more than just families

Social structures and institutions

Distinction between family and societyfamily based on affection - forgivenesssociety based on justice

Affection in social relations -> corruption (nepotism)Legalism in family relations -> destruction

Family -> society

Family expands -> small society

Affection declines as distance increases

Scarcity of goods

- selfishness/limitations to generosity

-scarcity of desirable goods

-> destructive conflict

=> Need framework of commonly accepted rules

The economic system

Fulfilling the desire for goods to be able to live a comfortable life

1. Recognition and respect

of ownership Relationship between person and things Relationship between people - property

is a social convention End of disputes - stability of possession 3rd blessing. Lord of Creation

2. Transfer of ownership Rights over goods transferred by consent

Can give things to someone Can sell things to someone

Market Place where transfer ownershp by exchange

Origin of money Convenient unit of exchange

-> division of labour and specialisation Freedom and responsibility Freedom within the law 2nd blessing - ethical relationships

3. Performance of promises

“My word is my bond” Promise keeping 1st Blessing Society as moral Self-limitation - don’t be greedy Natural rational expectations Trust people including strangers

Free trade between strangers

3 Principles of justice, 3 Blessings, 3 Laws

1. Society of owners- 3rd blessing - dominion over creation- Do not steal/misuse public money

2. Society as a market- 2nd blessing - ethical relationships- Do not have immoral sexual relations

3. Society as moral- 1st blessing - mind body unity- Do not hurt a person’s heart

Economic crimes

Theft, robbery, stealing, fraud, Denial of private property - nationalisation

without compensation; Unreasonable and punitive taxation including

taxation for social engineering such as inheritance tax

Reneging on agreements - not paying salaries, invoices,

Breaking promises

Role of government

Establish and maintain simple legal framework for free market.

Law of contract, laws against theft, fraud Maintain independent judiciary Independent central banks Limited taxation Government should not be involved in

finance or the economy. Minimise bureaucracy and corruption

Two incompatible syndromes

Commercial moral syndrome

Shun force Voluntary agreements Be honest Collaborate with strangers Compete Respect contracts Use initiative and enterprise Be open to novelty Be efficient Promote convenience Dissent for the task Invest for productivity Be industrious Be thrifty Be optimistic

Guardian moral syndrome

Shun trading Exert prowess Be obedient and disciplined Be exclusive Respect hierarchy Be loyal Adhere to tradition Treasure honour Be ostentatious Enjoy leisure Deceive to achieve task Take vengeance Show fortitude Dispense largesse Be fatalistic

Civil society

Fulfiling the desire for social position and power

Civil society

Human desire to have position in society where can make a difference, unique contribution

Multitude of institutions in civil society: Politics, businesses, charities, local government,

religion, schools, hospitals etc.

Civil society should be law governed Freedom of speech, movement, living, career Meritocracy

Crimes against civil society

Achieving position illegitimately Murder, coups Nepotism Cronyism Corruption, bribery Discrimination in public sector Totalitarianism

Role of government

Maintain an independent judiciaryMaintain roads, sewersNational defenceSafety net welfareGovernment to protect way of life and not to

engage in social engineering

Educational system

Fulfilling the desire for knowledge and understanding of the world we

are to inhabit

What is education?

Education is the transaction between the generations when children are initiated into the world which they are to inhabit

This is not just transfer of knowledge and skills

It is most fundamentally learning to perform humanly

Where does education take place?

Family Teach children how to behave To live a spiritual life How to think, not what to think or believe Skills

Swimming, gardening, house maintenance, money management etc.

School History, literature, language, religion Specialised knowledge, skills More complex thinking

Educational crimes

Failing to pass on the wisdom of the ages- treason of intellectuals

Dumbing downIndoctrinationNot graduating with qualifications and

skillsInformation without values, purpose,

meaning

Schools should be . . .

Independent - self-governing and not controlled by the state

Financed by fees, scholarships, vouchersFree to specialise and set curriculaNot for indoctrination - religious or politicalFollow public exams set by universities and

other professional bodies

Religion

To satisfy the desire to worship

Religion

Acknowledgement of a dependence on a superhuman being expressed through acts of cult - worship of God

Concerned with questions of meaning of life, right and wrong behavior, salvation

Rituals to give meaning and sanctification to rites of passage such as marriage

Religious crimes

Idolatry Mistaking the relative for the absolute

Sectarianism BigotryFundamentalism

Role of government

Allowing religious freedom Enable religious communities to be

involved in law making, education and values

Summary

Human desire

Social system

Crime

Experience love Family Adultery

Material things Economy Stealing

Position Civil society Murder

Knowledge, thinking

Education Falsehood, indoctrination

Worship Religion Idolatry