Please tell us Chris, when one has actually succeeded in improving anyone's life, other than their elites.

Phil,

What planes did you fly and which aircraft carrier did you serve on when you were in the navy?

Hi Hasbenn,

well if you at the history of European and Australian history, you will find that absolute poverty has largely gone.

Even when Australia supposedly had the highest income per capita in the world, in late 19th century, many ran around with no shoes and lived a miserable existence.

Pluralism, which protects rights of all individuals and interest groups through rule of law and freedom of association, has helped ensure that wealth is spread a bit more evenly.

And since you asked me the question, what political system do you advocate?

Hasbeen, obviously liberal democracy working in corrupt and/or poorer countries, including south africa with its history, is always going to be that much harder.

But, where there is a will, there should be a way.

The rule of law has to exist and be upheld.

In a way, holding on to my faith in liberal democracy is an ideal, perhaps dreamland, but that it what I choose to hold on to in this competitive world.

I don't believe in God, but I do believe in humanity and the ideal of liberal democracies being necessary to aid the prospect of a less hostile world.

Liberalism won't guarantee a better world, but I strongly believe it is our best hope.

sorry about grammar, me bad and always rush to much.

Too much to do.

in corrupt and/or poorer countries
Chris Lewis,
In a nutshell, it's happening everywhere because greed is everywhere.
There's no chance in Hell that a liberal Democracy could ever function with the Tax systems in place. People will never be content when those with less effort receive more than those who are burdened by the former. People don't object to paying Tax, what they object to is the crooked playing field of Tax bracketing/loopholes.
The only way for achieving what we call a liberal democracy is to have the same tax rate for all & above all, reduce the insane salaries of Public Service senior bureaucrats.
I heard on ABC Radio this morning where such a stark example was discussed from Lebanon.
A Sudanese woman who worked for a Lebanese Police officer as a house keeper, was sexually abused by him, did not get paid for a year & then dumped her on the steps of her Embassy.
Similar scenario play out here in Australia at the hands of senior bureaucrats & foreign businesses operating here.
Take the COVID-19 situation for example. Tens of thousands of Australian residents have lost everything they worked for whilst Public Servants incl in the ABC & SBS & a number of other public institutions had merely to contend with restricted movement. No financial losses whatsoever, on the contrary, since they couldn't spend, their savings increased dramatically !
That doesn't sound all that liberally democratic to me !