You might have heard the expression “a few good men”. Perhaps seen the film with that title.

The idea being that it may take only a few good men - and/or women - to turn a bad thing or circumstance into something better, against all odds. It takes dedication, perseverance and belief in what one is doing.

The opposite is also true. It may take only a few bad men (and women, but more seldom) to turn a good thing or circumstance into something worse, perhaps much worse.

And where in democracy the majority should rule - even if many democracies are fallacies, states of illusions - in oligarchies it definitely is the minority that rules - against all odds, and against the will of the people.

Chances are therefore that it is more likely for an oligarchy to produce a situation where few bad men rule - than it is in democracy where there still is a chance to subdue them - the few bad men that is. Or at least minimize the damage they might inflict on their fellow men.

It is only a pity that minority rule manages to destroy so many good things created and constructed through painstaking, persistent and perhaps loving effort by the majority. In world politics we can pinpoint pretty exactly where the infections reside, but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot we can do about them. We might have the remedy in hand, and be fully prepared to apply it, even gently, but if the patient is not forthcoming, the remedy is nullified. Especially when the patient believes that he is actually a doctor who knows best.