On (26 Apr 98) Hal White wrote to Day Brown...
 HW>    Probably you are aware that Plato's Republic, "based on wisdom,
 HW> not wealth" has been labeled 'totalitarian.' There's some
 HW> justification for that label, IMHO.
 I don't think I've ever heard that.  What's the justification?  I
 managed to lose my copy many years ago, and it's one I want to replace.
 I enjoyed Soc beating up on Thrasymachus (sp?).
 HW>    An odd recommendation for a libertarian....
 HW>    "Oligarchy based on wisdom...has never been tried"
 HW> OK, but oligarchy based on self-proclaimed wisdom has
 HW> been--Calvin's Geneva, Hitler, Stalin,  Pol Pot.
 HW>    The old puzzle: who selects 'those with wisdom'?
 I would say our 'Democratic Republic' (the USA, I'm not sure if you're
 a U.S. American or Canadian American from your BBS name) is
 theoretically supposed to be based on 'our' selection of 'those with
 wisdom', but of course it has devolved (or maybe evolved) into one
 where votes are cast more for potential self-service, or even worse,
 because a candidate is simply charismatic.
... Good health:  The slowest possible way of dying.
--- PPoint 2.05
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