We haven’t gotten it right.

A century ago, a number of political philosophers saw the suffering of the population at the hands of the rich and the powerful. They saw violent revolution followed by a system of equality. We now call that communism.

Instead of being a solution, it became a whole new way of spreading misery. The rich and the powerful were replaced by the powerful and the favored. The government had the control and those who manipulated it reaped the rewards. Again, the population suffered with no hope of improvement and a failing economy.

Even now, countries around the world struggle with the balance of public vs. private institutions. What yields the best financial results? What gives people the most opportunity? What creates the greatest public good? The fact is, no one really knows.

This is the frightening aspect of global justice. Many world powers are trying to join or lead large governmental bodies. Eventually, some people want a global law that everyone has to follow. How do we know that law is the most just? Does a simple majority decide it? Or will the powerful write the laws to keep them in power?

The test of a good country is where the people go when the walls come down. Do they run out or run in? In the US, people have mostly run in. That pace is slowing now. The rich and the powerful in this democracy have written the laws to help themselves. Now, they find the global community a good place to spread their influence. If we get this wrong, how do you leave a planet with one failed world government?