What makes a great Government?

Question

Have there ever been great Governments? What is is that makes one Government stand out from the rest?

Answer 1

The Greatest Government we can have is one that is HONEST. Be truthfull to the people and admit mistakes they make along the way. Make the the Country they Govern, the most important thing they do. Be with the people they Govern and listen to them, even the lesser people must have their say and be heard. Listen and Learn from those around you.
Believe in Love and Trust and those that do fall along the way.
Help them. This is too much to ask, but it would be my way.

Answer 2

My first requirement of a good government would be one which provides education to all children of such a high standard that only a fool would want to waste their money sending kids to a private school. Over time this alone would probably solve many ills of our society.
My second would concern health in the same manner as above.
If the above were achieved we would find ourselves living in a much different society than we do now.
I have a feeling the above might apply in some Scandinavian countries but I'm not sure.

Answer 3

The government that governs least, governs best.
Great government, That is a relative term. I have read that the old Soviet Satellite countries (Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria), are the best as far as personal liberties go, but are they great governments? You could write a book on the subject, as many already have.
That's a GOOD question.

Answer 4

A great government's strength is not political, militarily, or economic. It is spiritual. Once the foundation of any government is weakened by a slothful and indifferent populace, corrupt and power-mad leaders, great government begins to decay.
We sit back in our easy chairs, refuse to put down the remote, and continue to gorge ourselves at the alter of consumerism, honestly believing that all our "things" is what makes our country great. In fact, our consumption and lack of any need for true sacrifice is what is destroying our country - and our great government - from within.
Once arrogance, avarice, sloth and hubris sets in, a society begins to collapse.
Witness the great Greek and Roman empires. Then compare them to the United States today.
The very people who say, "There's no comparison; the U.S.A. is great!" are the people whose blatant ignorance and arrogance are contributing to the moral decadence and civil disregard for a once-great government. -RKO- 09/22/07

Answer 5

Governments should be based on identifying the tasks that must be done collectively, and doing them efficiently. They must also identify the tasks which can be done privately, and use great restraint in avoiding the temptation to bow to political pressure to take over those roles in society.

My view is that things that must be done collectively are:
(1) cases where violence or coercion of some sort must be used - e.g. police, military, courts
(2) cases where there is a significant "free rider" effect - where a private firm would have no way of efficiently charging everyone who benefits from a service - e.g. building and maintaining roads, urban parks, basic education in schools
(3) cases where failure to provide a certain service can lead to direct harm being passed on to people without their consent - e.g. fire departments, environmental regulation

I can see either viewpoint on providing services for which the most efficient means of providing the service is through a monopoly - e.g. railroad, city buses, etc.

Answer 6

A democracy (Not American style, British Canadian stye)

Answer 7

to learn to listen to the ppl that put them in POWER

Answer 8

a corrupt-free goverment

Answer 9

when every one knows its an uncertain rule.THEN it's a good gov.

Answer 10

true democracy and freedom for all!