The problem with populist outrage is that it only changes things when an ambitious leader shows up and takes advantage of the outrage for their own personal gain (dethroning the current ruler and putting themselves there).
Let's face it, humans need somebody to be on top. We don't know how to function otherwise. At least not for very long.
Have you ever heard the term "social primate"? If not, or if you do not accept that human beings belong into that category, there is not much of a discussion to be had.
> What's your basis for saying this? Do you have any way of verifying this claim?
A leader always emerges.
If you know of a counter-example, I'd love to hear it. But even in the smallest experiments I've run (group of friends trying to agree on where to have dinner), a leader always emerges and then consensus is reached.
How about something rather than someone on the top? The idea behind successful governments is system rather than person. Lets extrapolate this and design better systems based on rationality rather than short sighted greed. Then, if people like, they can elect a king who is tall and has a nice smile. He can cut ribbons and attend funerals while the real governance is left to rational systems. Kind of like what happens now, except that I doubt the rationality.
This is true, there is a something on top these days. But even in the olden days there was a something on top. Do you really think a king was able to do everything themselves? Much like a modern CEO they had a whole lot of help and only made the final calls and set general guidelines for things.
Incidentally Swizec, you are speaking to people primarily in the US. They have spent the last 200 years convincing themselves that what you say just isn't so regardless of whether or not it actually is.
Don't worry. Everyone here in Europe (and probably elsewhere too), has been spending the last few thousand years convincing themselves that this just isn't so.
And yet, despite all the overthrown governments, the toppled empires, and flat out revolutions - a leader always emerges. After a few years, the common population is always in pretty much the same boat they were before the revolution.
Let's face it, humans need somebody to be on top. We don't know how to function otherwise. At least not for very long.