4th Floor Common Room - Sunday Morning

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

There wasn't enough facepalming in the world to cover what had gone on over the past few days. That was why Edmund was in complete denial. Instead of dying of embarrassment, he was sitting on the floor in the common room, occasionally eating from a bowl of increasingly soggy cereal and trying to reply to a letter he'd received.

Comments

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"But there were still ups and downs," Valentine said. "That's my point. Nothing quite as big as French Revolutions, but I hardly call a king changing a church just so he can keep marrying a long line of women the definition of stable."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You get some duds," Edmund admitted, "and things do change with time, but if the people are taken care of to the ruler's best ability, that would certainly prolong their reign."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"To the ruler's best ability," Valentine repeated, giving a faint smile. "Ah, but what if the best of their ability is still not the best?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Then, if there's someone better suited, they deserve to be deposed."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"Even if the citizens are still content?" Valentine wondered.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"If it's in the best interests of the nation."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"And it would be entirely possible, wouldn't it, for the citizens to be content and for the government to be efficient, and still not realize that there could be better, or arguably think that the better trying to move in is bad, simply because it's different."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Theoretically, yes. You would have to take into consideration the effects on the individual and how what might be a better system of government or a more qualified ruler might not actually be what's best for the society as a whole because of how the people as individuals react."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"But every individual could have a vastly varied reaction..."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"And that's where the problem is. Can you predict how each individual coming together is going to cause the people's opinion to shift one way or another? How will their productivity be affected? Their morale? In theory, you can discuss change of government and doing what's best for the people, but putting change into practice isn't always easy or predictable, so it becomes about risk assessment instead of absolutes."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"Risk assessments," Valentine agreed with a nod, "and probably some well placed propaganda."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund gave a nod and conceded with a shrug. "But it's far too early in the morning for that."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

Valentine chuckled a little at that. "Awww, I was having fun, too."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"So was I," Ed admitted. "I'd be happy to discuss political theory with you another time. Some time that doesn't involve eating cereal that will dissolve my teeth."

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

"I might have to hold you up to that," Valentine grinned. "I'm kind of a junkie for it."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't call myself a junkie, but I'm always interested in a fresh perspective."