西門 豹のような治世が望まれる
西門 豹（せいもん ひょう）は中国戦国時代の魏の政治家である。彼は魏の文候に仕えた。彼の治世の中に河川整備事業がある。
当時、魏の民は特に生活に困る事もなかったので、西門 豹が当事業を進めようとすると、労役に駆り出される民達は挙って反対したという。彼は民の反対を押し切って事業を進めた。
後の世になって、この河川整備事業が魏の民の生活を潤したと言う。
この歴史上の逸話は、民主主義の治世が決して最善のものではなく、志操の高い権威主義の方が市民には良い行政サービスを提供できる事を示している。
温暖化問題の様な重大で長期的課題は、民主主義政治が最も不得手とする所であり、早急の改善が求められている。
We hope for a reign like that of Ximen Bao.
Ximen Bao was a politician of the Wei Dynasty during the Warring States period in China. He served the Wenhou of the Wei Dynasty. During his reign, there was a river improvement project.
At the time, the people of Wei were not particularly struggling to make ends meet, so when Ximen Bao tried to go ahead with this project, the people who were forced to do labor were opposed. He overcame the people's opposition and went ahead with the project.
In later generations, it was said that this river improvement project improved the lives of the people of Wei.
This historical anecdote shows that democracy is never the best regime, and that well-meaning authoritarianism can provide better administrative services to its citizens.
Serious, long-term issues such as global warming are one area where democratic politics are weakest, and urgent improvement is needed.
