Moral Government of a Moral People

Why is a moral people required for good government? 

Years ago I was riding in a grey hound through New Mexico and Arizona. The crew was having auto problems and the AC was insufficient to cool the 55 choir students aboard. Games lost their amusement and sweaty brows were common. I, however,  was happily engaged in a conversation with a young intellectual. 

The discussion waxed philosophical as we talked about the merits and demerits of socialism. My view was pragmatic, saying that the formula must be flawed because socialism has always buckled under true application. The USSR wasted and was dissolved. China scraped their socialist economy. India, too, realized that the cause of the wealth of nation was proportionate to economic freedom. 

What my friend wanted me to understand though was Socialism’s failure was due to two things: misapplication and an immoral people. While I still think socialism is, at its core fatally flawed, he did have a point. Russia uses Socialism as the vehicle of insurrection more than because they wanted better government and Lenin was the opportunist who knew that socialism would bring great power. China too used it as a new means of oppression. India after It’s colonial period was enchanted by the romantic rhetoric of the socialists although the nation was so economically unstable at the time that socialism never had a fair chance in that country. 

The morality of the people and skillful execution of the government are essential to domestic success. An immoral people cannot be governed by any means whatever. No republic, no oligarchy, no tyranny can protect the citizen from himself. The whip might sting the degenerate into temporary submission but unless he reforms his ways he is destined for barbarism. In every instance, morality trumps governmental structure. 

My friend’s point was valid. The people must be worthy of their government! And the government will be worthy of its people. Socialism has been practiced in more worthy dominions. The Scandinavians are the best possible example of this. They have enough public virtue to carry on a socialistic government without it decaying into basic despotism. 

The point is proven. A moral people can uphold its government, even if the government is a socialist; even if it’s capitalist, monarchical, or autocratic! The principle holds on. 

Much can be said on the freedoms, rights, education, and prosperity of the socialist nations or even whether they’ll outlive the twenty first century, but all the same, let the morality determine the functionality of the government.