Putin’s invasion of Ukraine rekindles what I believe is a fundamental question for all times: “Who is going to make the decisions: Elected representatives or autocrats?”
In the case of the Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict is not based in religious or ethnic differences which seem to be prominent in most past wars. The invasion of Ukraine is based on a fundamental difference in the form of government. Putin sees the very existence of a neighboring country that can actually choose its own leaders as a threat to his autocratic rule.
In my blog post titled “Government,” I discuss my thoughts on what it is that governments should and should not do. My ideas are just that, my ideas. There are many other valid views about the role and scope of government. With the exception of anarchists, who are really not worthy of discussion nor for that matter of any kind of intercourse, all rational people see some role for government in any society.
The fundamental question then is, “Who?,” will control the government and make decisions that impact people. For almost all of human history those governmental decisions have been made by rulers who, by hook or by crook, have amassed the power to impose their will and decisions on the rest of the population.
Short of an invasion or assassination, autocratic rulers have basically stayed in power until they die and then the power transfers either to their heirs or there is a re-shuffling which results in a new single leader. While a few rulers have been called benevolent dictators, they are very few in number and the designation itself is pretty much an oxymoron.
Although the idea of people ruling has its roots at least as far back as the Greek philosophers, autocratic systems of government dominated worldwide until they were fundamentally changed by the American Revolution in the later part of the 18th Century. The Americans threw off the power of the ruler (King George 3 at the time) and replaced that autocracy with a representative government organized as a democratic republic.
Scholars can certainly point to a number of economic realities, including slavery, which contributed to the desire for revolution. And yet, the fundamental document upon which the government of the U.S. is formed, The Constitution, starts with the words, “We The People…”
Since the American Revolution, the arc of change has been towards more involvement in the selection process. Women, Native Americans, Blacks, and even 18 year-olds have all joined the ranks of voters who select the politicians who ultimately make the rules by which we live. This is done at the local, State, and National levels.
The system is certainly not perfect. Money, much of it “dark money” that comes from who-knows-where, plays a significant role in both who gets selected to run and who actually can win. Truth in political discourse is often difficult to ferret out. Voting rights are often limited or withheld. Winston Churchill once said that: “democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.”
All of these criticisms of democracy have some truth in them, but more or less, the majority of people choose who have the important decision making jobs. Elections are also the one legal way to remove those who the people feel are not doing the job they were elected to do.
Over the past several hundred years a number of countries have followed the example of the United States including our old overlords, the British. And yet, the idea of people making the ultimate choice is very far from universal.
Autocrats tend to want to stay in office indefinetly. Over time, with nobody to stop them, autocrats often become tyrants who abuse anyone and everyone who questions their authority.
Tyrants will kill those who they see as any kind of threat to their power. Putin is currently in the headlines, but he is not alone in the current tyrant category: Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping, Nicolas Maduro, and Mohammed bin Salmon all have shown both a willingness and capability of eliminating any opposition by use of lethal force. In other words they are clearly tyrants. There have been historic tyrants who some of us believe now reside in a very much hotter place including: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, and many more too numerous to mention.
Which brings me back to the current situation we (people of the world) face: “Who will make decisions for us, autocrats (many of whom will become tyrants eventually) or elected representatives?” The choices/questions people must face are, “Who will make the important decisions in our lives?” and “If we don’t like the decisions being made, can we peacefully replace these rulers by means of elections?”
There are no easy answers here.
I saw a quote recently that went something like, “Tyrants won’t stop until somebody stops them.” I don’t recall who this is attributed to, but it makes a lot of sense to me.
While I believe this to be true, it brings up an even more difficult question, “How do we stop a tyrant?.”
Here are four options: Prayer; Economic Sanctions; Military Action; Wait.
I join many of my family and friends in praying for the Ukrainian people. Some people say that we just need to put our trust in God, and all will be well. Jesus taught us to not only help the poor and sick, but to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. This is easier said than done for many of us. I can’t quite get out of my head the final line of lyrics from one of Bob Dylan’s most famous protest songs, “…If God’s on our side, He’ll stop the next war.” Will he?
Economic Sanctions sound good, until you really look at them closely. Like many others, I smile at the thought of impounding a Russian Oligarch’s Yacht. “Serves him right!” But one of the problems with tyrants is that they do what they want, people be damned. Sanctions hurt regular people more than the tyrant or his oligarch friends. Further complicating the issue is the global economic structure of interdependence. If sanctions work, then how was Castro able to continue to rule Cuba from when he took over in 1959 until his death in 2016?
“When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything is a nail.” While this old adage does not specifically refer to military force, it is worth considering. I spent 29 years in uniform and certainly am a believer in deterrence and that sometimes military force is the best solution. Note that I said ,“sometimes,” and therein lies the rub. It is extremely difficult to determine when the military option is called for. And, as many have noted, it is much easier to start a war than to end one. Further complicating the issue is that three of the biggest tyrants today, Putin, XI, & Kim Jong Un, all have nuclear weapons that can essentially destroy large portions of any country they want to, including ours. Sure, they too would die, but if we are dealing with unstable people, where are the guardrails?
Let’s just wait and see. It is possible that Putin will change once he gets what he wants in Ukraine. Maybe he will rebuild the country and leave his other neighbors alone. Does anyone believe this? Or we can hope that he will be assassinated by cooler heads in the Kremlin. This might happen, but it might not. Putin is 69 years old and, like the rest of us, he will eventually die. But of course we don’t know when and we don’t know if the next guy will be any better.
Sadly none of these four options seems particularly good to me.
I wish I had an answer, but really all I have are more questions.
Jim,
Your analysis is very complete and I appreciate all of the responses and comments. There is no easy answer although with the American media and population we seek an easy solution. One solution is to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine. However, there is a high possibility that enforcement of a no-fly zone by U.S. and NATO countries would create WWIII. To me that is the greater of two evils: 1) Putin invading Ukraine and 2) WWIII. I went to the Center of Strategic and International Studies (www.CSIS.org) and listened to a podcast by Mark Cancian, USMC (Ret), N-Fly Zones and Besieged Cities, http://www.csis.org/node/64294. I invite you to listen to this podcast. The podcast is disturbing but I believe accurate. Unfortunately, I believe Russia will take over Ukraine, the suffering of the Ukrainian people will continue, and Putin will continue in office. The sanctions will have a negative impact on the Russian people but not on Putin. I don’t think Putin really cares what happens to the Russian people.
Thanks for your thoughts/input John. I did listen to the podcast your recommended and found it to be very informative, particularly on the military aspects of the situation. Sadly, I agree with you that Putin does not care about either the Russian or Ukrainian people. Putin is taking actions that will hurt both nations long term. I also fear that you are correct that Putin will eventually take over Ukraine. Jim
Dear Jim, I love your blogs and your “balanced” approach no matter what the subject matter!
Putin’s war is ultra maddening… I feel he has declared war on all of Humanity, and he must be stopped! He’s taking the Russians back to the dark ages of the Soviet Union when most Russians were poor and unhappy! War should be obsolete already!
Before the invasion, I felt most of the World moving forward towards Democracy, Freedom, Peace and Prosperity for everyone! Technology has destroyed the old fashioned borders, and we are all more interconnected than ever before! John Lennon’s song “Imagine” comes to mind!
As we’ve seen in the recent past in our own country, Democracy is very fragile, and we cannot let it go! Unfortunately Citizen’s United gives Corporations the reigns to determine who runs for office and who we vote for! Hopefully our Democracy will survive…
Nuclear war would be suicide, and I still feel it’s the least likely scenario. Is it even possible to have a “contained nuclear” war with the smaller weapons?? I find it ironic that the US is the only country to actually use and drop the Atom bomb! Although it ended War World II, “Nukes” are much more powerful today! Nuff said…
I’m always quoting Jimi Hendrix these days,
“When the Power of Love overcomes the love of power, there will Peace in the World!” Peace always wins in the end too!
Power to the people and may all Humanity Prosper in Love. Peace and Freedom!! We must evolve and thrive! Forever the Optimist! Thank you for your wonderful blog posts and balanced thoughts!
Aloha Always, Jennifer🌺🌈♥️
Thanks for the feedback Jennifer. Only a mad man could wish for war. Soldiers and Marines know this to be true. Unfortunately, there are “mad” men (and most are men) in the world and the unanswered question reamains: How do we stop these evil people without resorting to miliatry means?
I agreee that Citizens United is a threat to freedom and the idea that “the people rule.” However, I would define the “culprets” a little differently than you do Jennifer. Certainly not all people in corporations are bad, I worked in one for 13 years and there are many fine people in all levels, some even in the top levels. Corporations are at their core amoral. They are not immoral, nor are they moral. They exist primarily to create wealth. Sometimes Corporations do act in ways that help other people. Sometimes they don’t.
I see the real threat to democracy (People ruling through elected representatives) not with the corporations themselves, but with those very few, very powerful people who control them through their ownership. These very few people also have a tremendous amount of power and influence over people in political power. And, with Citizens United, we really are not sure who these people are.
Dark Money (Make even darker by Citizens United) is only one challenge to democracy. Nationalism and the closely related prejudice against anyone who is “different” is alive and well in every nation on earth. There are certainly many positives about national, ethnic, and cultural pride and traditions. Taken to their extreme, however, these “positives” can easily turn to negatives for anyone who does not fit a certain mold.
I hate to present a problem without providing a solution, but right now it is hard to see a positive outcome. Take Care Always, Jim
Thought provoking Jim. I am at a loss to begin to comprehend what is happening in our world today…. You forgot to mention “holding your breath.” which is what I am doing.
Yes, it is hard to comprehend Judy.
As always, I appreciate your thoughts. What popped into my mind when I read your blog is that I wish there was. Russian equivalent of the Praetorian Guard. As I recall, they assassinated five or six Roman emperors when they were unhappy with the emperors’ leadership. Of course the Praetorians promptly chose a replacement more to their liking. Maybe the answer lies within Russia itself.
Thanks for the feedback Elaine. I do think that the long range answer/solution will have to come from within Russia. Putin has lost touch with reality, hopefully cooler heads will prevail. Today I read in the Wall Street Journal that Putin’s forces have bombed or shelled a maternity hospital. It does not get much worse than that – he has to go.
Very thoughtful and unsettling.
Hey Jim, It is unsettling to say the least. As is the case with so many of life’s biggest problems/issues, there is no easy clear solution here.
Good article and you are correct there isn’t any really good short term answer. I recently read an article that said one of the longer term solutions is less reliance on oil which is Russia’s only real export and his hammer over Europe. One of my sons and one son in law are in that business but I think the article was correct. The only real hope is the Russian military. A question is whether the populations of the free world will make the sacrifices necessary to make sanctions really work. Quite frankly with how a very significant portion of our population has acted over the last four or five years, I have my doubts.
I agree Walt. I am also not sure of the stomach that Americans have for the sacrifices that will be needed to topple Putin using sanctions. I hope we are able to stick with them. Long term we do need to diversify our energy sources further and become less reliant on oil or for that matter on any source that comes from autocratic governments. We really can only become truly energy independent if we have ample sources of energy that are more or less interchangeable. However, this transition will not happen over night and it will require that we rely to some extent on fossil fuels as a bridge. Take Care Always, and Semper Fi.