Semi-OT: The Icaran Empire Preview (the book one)

[Hunpecked]

El_Phil writes: "But someone gets exploited."

A "low" wage isn't exploitation if a worker is being paid approximately what he's worth to his employer. Assuming a bell curve for human abilities, a "fair" economic system would actually be expected to include low wages as well as high. If the system permits workers to climb the economic ladder (e.g. no castes), I don't see a lot of discontent over economic issues.

El_Phil doubts the "divine right of kings" as a stabilizing factor, yet I think he underestimates the power of religion. Historically, true believers have suffered martyrdom, fought terrible wars, and happily executed suicide missions in the name of their deities. A political leader who also embodies the religious faith of his people has gone a long way toward solidifying his power.

Given the proper tradition and indoctrination, I don't see discontent rising to the levels El_Phil seems to expect. Up until the end of World War II Japan was solidly behind its government and god-emperor, despite its defeats and the terrible suffering of its people. Suicide became a standard way of waging war, and both soldiers and civilians routinely committed suicide to avoid capture. If this kind of system could co-exist with major democratic nations, couldn't the Icaran system be even more successful in an alternate world that may never have produced Athenian democracy or the Roman republic?

I do have my own doubts about Starhawk's premises; for example I don't see how the "religious freedom" he mentions can be consistent with the semi-divine status of the Praetor--the last thing you want is any hint whatsoever that the state religion may be wrong. I'm also wary of using the word "crusade" in a world that may never have seen the Crusades, or even Islam and Christianity. And I don't like the idea that the "military" can remove nobles--without absolute civilian control of the military, the "banana republic" syndrome is all too likely.

But I do think that religion, indoctrination, and prosperity are plausible as a basis for government stability and longevity. And I like the idea that the Icaran state has "reinvented" itself a couple times along the way--a series of "successor states" to me makes more sense than one immortal empire. With a little more work on the checks and balances, Starhawk may soon have himself a nice little fictional society.