Limits of the State

When we look at the various forms of government implemented throughout history in various nations, we can come to but one conclusion: The type of government and economic scaffolding implemented, does not always determine the fate of a nation.

The most important factor in determining a nation's success or failure is culture. What does a nation's society value? How does it define right and wrong?

We have seen what happened in Russia and to some extent, other Eastern European countries when capatilism was implemented in a somewhat artificial and blanketed manner. Russia never fully removed itself from its old values. Corruption was and is accepted as the way things are done. As a collective people, Russians never arrived at the positions American's found themselves in 1776:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

These are the musings of aliens to the Russian. Therefore there can be no public will to stand behind a constitution similar to ours. Public will is the only thing that gives legs to any action of government.

As much as I believe that Adam Smith came as close as a human could to codifying a way to human happiness, I also know that without the proper cultural foundation, no color of State rule can lead to freedom and it's fruits.