For just the longest, intellectuals have been coming up to me and asking, “Fartch [or “Herr/Signor/Señor/Monsieur F.,” “F.-san,” etc.], what do you think about the idea of one world-government to serve all humanity?”  I have gently brushed them off with a contemplative nod, whispering “Let me think about it.”  The whispering stops here.  The complete answer is multifaceted but readily summarized.

Bear in mind that human beings are naturally contentious, many capable of the unforgivable.  (Do not despair, as some are rather angelic.)  Whether our affairs proceed within the bounds of a national society or a normalized global one, there will be the daily strife.  In some quarters it is asserted that nationalism per se is evil, breeding elitism, hypercompetition, war, subjugation, genocide.  In fact, nationalism, often proudly embracing culture and traditions, is sometimes perverted by manipulators to inflame a populace, as might anything be ill-used.  It might be, in other circumstances, that a sleepy populace darn well needs inflaming when its legitimate interests and existence are threatened.  (A vital duty of a free people is to correctly identify and address threats.  Admittedly, concensus appears almost impossible on some fundamental threshold issues, especially when enemies and the unwise are accorded a voice; and the duty broadens to determining appropriate measures against such uncertain threats as might be possible, threats for which unpreparedness or perhaps present inaction means disaster.  If the point is reached at which the philosophically-incompatible people of a strong democratic nation cannot manage to field consistent and effective policies—to some degree now the American situation—there is little reason for hope that the much more disparate voices of a world collective might do it.)  Threats from opposing nations would of course not exist under a global government.  Earth forces could legally descend upon any hot locality, do some shooting, put down insurrection and retire local Boss Hoggs.  Unfortunately, when ultimately the new aristocracy of World Control (Humongous Brother?) had adequately insulated itself from the controlled (here it is noteworthy that the existence of competitive, interacting governments in global community works against tyranny within a given nation), a one-world slave-state might well doom the aspirations of this species as they have been sung by our thinkers and dreamers through the embattled centuries.  If it is generally true (and it is) that nations are born in blood, it ought not be disputed that, like people ourselves, they can grow into mature individuals entitled to their own choices, ways, distinct identities, and living arrangements, so long as they keep down the racket.  No comprehensible library of statutes, regulations, and jurisprudence could address the needs and traditions of all the world’s peoples in the present era.  To bring all under a single government would only be achieved by force, drugging, intimidation etc. on unimaginable scale; for without it, sudden distributive entitlements to resources now belonging to nations, loss of rights of property and activities and expression, and forced recognition of foreign social ideas  (including religious) would ensure the explosion of the third planet from the sun.  Now, a few spiritually enlightened nations might relax and surrender their sovereignty to the grail of a unified world.  Unless protected by powerful and willing allies not so naive, these will be washed away in time; for hard foes out there, ever pursuing the technologies and social methods of dominion, will achieve and decisively exercise them.  Sadly, history and logic leave no question of this, absolutely none whatsoever.

What, therefore, does the dashing Signor Fartch think about the idea of one world-government to serve all humanity?  It’s a LOVELY notion, as beautiful as Shangri-La and Shambhala and Disney-World-la.  Assuming it provided full and satisfying service to all the incongruous locales and components of human societies, without rousing explosive resentments over reapportionments and concessions and a million thorns.  Assuming the slaughter in getting there were avoidable.  Assuming 90% of humanity wanted it and wanted a heavily Westernized, democratized formulation of it.  Assuming it could be be controlled forever by the citizens.  Otherwise, a heck of a lot of good people are wasting a heck of a lot of precious time and life-force in putting their shoulders behind that wagon.  It isn’t going anywhere.