There is a tendency for wealth and power, which shall be abbreviated to power to accumulate. If uniformly distributed at a point in time, random variation is part of that tendency.

Random accumulation of power

Though random variation may be small, once in place, accumulated power drives further accumulation.

Drive to accumulation of power

Among the people, some have a drive to accumulate power, and of those, some, by luck or ability, do accumulate it.

Power as a source of power

Power is a source of power—for it confers the necessary resources.

Summary of the sources of power

Thus, accumulation of power is random, driven by drive, by ability, and by power itself.

Distribution of wealth

But too much distribution of wealth is inefficient. Societies in which there is some ‘equitability’ have an advantage in production. However, equitability is not the only advantage.

Democracy

It may be the case in some societies that numbers, which is a source of power, asserts itself and a kind of democracy emerges—a rule or co-rule by a group, not necessarily a majority, which has power by cohesive action, with or without force.

Establishment

When established, this is a kind of democracy.

Liberal democracy

Origins

In the emergence of democracy, a group stands against a concentrated power, e.g., a monarch or dictator.

The concept of liberal democracy

The recognition of the group’s value is explicit and there may then be a tendency to liberal democracy in which the values are liberty, equality, justice, and quality of life for all, and in which these ideals are expressed practically and in balance with reason (rationality).

There is a case for having institutions that protect all groups and individuals and are independent of the politicians and short term swings of political mood.

The function

This does confer some power, which, however, is opposed by the tendency to accumulation of power.

This is a familiar situation in democracies.

While the situation can be cast in ethical terms, and while it may be effective to do so for all parties (this is not specifically a reference to political parties) in some ways, the fundamental dynamic is the interaction of different parties and forces in the accumulation and distribution of power.

The individual

Isolation of the individual

In the play of politics and economics, individuals may feel ‘lost at sea’, not (just) because of forces much greater, but also because of disconnection and disorientation.

Response

1. Seek balance between transience and direction, between the secular (above) and the real. Formulate the ideal.

2. Discover the political dynamic (general: above) and context (study, gather information and data—data is critical). Formulate the real.

3. Seek affiliation (sharing, sangha)—original, established, community.

4. Act. As an agent, thinker, and persuader; individually and politically (group); at all relevant scales of extension (geographic…) and duration, and in all relevant dimensions of being.