The British began it with their House of Lords (“our betters” as our tour bus driver in London called them), which literally lords over the House of Commons (which represents “commoners”). Such terms repel nowadays, but the two Houses worked well, so much so that the US used them as the model for its Senate and House of Representatives. My country, Australia, and others in the British Commonwealth did the same.
But what happens when some with little or no status or accomplishments in life are elected to the Upper House, and some who are brighter and brainier spend years voting as their political party dictates in the Lower House? Not much. Many seem happy to be there. Productivity? Leave that to the background bureaucrats who were there when they came and will be after they’ve gone.
Democracy — “the rule of the people” — works well when it holds true to Christian principles, but in an egalitarian society in which “Jack’s as good as his master” and politicians plunder the Treasury purse — it begins to break down. (Jack isn’t, of course because if he were he’d be a master himself.)
When Christian values go out the window, democracy heads for the door and the polar opposites of left and right extremism seek to rule.
The Bible instructs us to pray for those who are in authority, whether or not we agree with their political viewpoint, but it’s a lot easier to do so when the hand of God is very obviously on the head of a President, or a Prime Minister, for a nation’s good.
Socialism does not work, it never has; it appeals to starry-eyed dreamers and mob-members who enjoy disturbing the public peace. Wokeness is a delusion that borders on insanity. On the other hand, a ‘conservative’ party that seeks to please rather than make much-needed tough decisions, is like a weak swimmer treading water quietly so as not to attract sharks.
But cheer up, those who put into practice the sound values of the kingdom of God — its Magna Charta being Christ’s Sermon on the Mount* — prove how good its values work as the basis of good government and forward-movement — always has, always will.
* The Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 to 9.