Because I don't think the British Empire was a democracy, for anyone who wasn't living in the confines of he United Kingdom (and not really for many of those).
Until the voting reforms granting suffrage to one and all, most of those in England didn't have a say in who represented them.
And the countries outside of Britain had even less say than that (and yes, I know the United States has other problems with franchise but beasts are different).
India was ruled, until Victoria's day, by a chartered monopoly; as if Chrysler were the legal gov't of Michigan, with an army (subsidised by some separate Gov't) and the power to enter treaties, etc.
The only reason I'd say an empire is a "bad" thing is that the common good at hand isn't that of the people, because the people to whom the government answers aren't those who are directly affected by policy (with the exception of a very small group, whose interests are personal).
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Date: 2007-03-11 04:13 pm (UTC)Because I don't think the British Empire was a democracy, for anyone who wasn't living in the confines of he United Kingdom (and not really for many of those).
Until the voting reforms granting suffrage to one and all, most of those in England didn't have a say in who represented them.
And the countries outside of Britain had even less say than that (and yes, I know the United States has other problems with franchise but beasts are different).
India was ruled, until Victoria's day, by a chartered monopoly; as if Chrysler were the legal gov't of Michigan, with an army (subsidised by some separate Gov't) and the power to enter treaties, etc.
The only reason I'd say an empire is a "bad" thing is that the common good at hand isn't that of the people, because the people to whom the government answers aren't those who are directly affected by policy (with the exception of a very small group, whose interests are personal).
TK