[alan]

> This is the case in every country. Those at the top will take an inordinate amount of time to make rules that benefit themselves and their friends.

It's actually a bit simpler than that. Any set of rules will allow certain segments to rise to the top. Once there, they have great interest in keeping the rules in their favour, but they don't have to take all that much time making the rules favour them in the first place.

[swift]

Your categorical statement about rules is an interesting one. I think this is actually a mathematical claim which I'm fairly certain is false.

It'd be interesting to explore whether the space of rules that keep everyone on an even keel include any rule sets that we'd actually want to live under, though. Ever read "The Lottery in Babylon" by Borges?