Peggy NoonanWord of the day- kakistocracy. From the Greek meaning government by the worst persons, least qualified or most unprincipled.
About This Quote
A kakistocracy is a term used to describe a government or other authority in which the worst elements of society dominate. It is an insidious form of oligarchy, where the worst elements of the population control the government and all of its institutions. The word kakistocracy came into common usage in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was associated with the governments of France and Russia. During this time, it was used as a derogatory term to describe those who were responsible for those countries being so corrupt.
In those countries, those who were not from noble families were systematically excluded from high-level positions as well as from opportunity for advancement down through society. In France during the French Revolution, for example, many nobles ended up being guillotined for their crimes against the people.
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