In the West, we are often told about other countries where they are led by a king, or a sultan, or whatever that country uses as a title for its leader. And we are told that we are lucky to have a democracy. I fully agree that a true democracy is better than a dictatorship, but is there such a thing as a true democracy anywhere in the world?

I only have experience of government in the UK, and to a smaller extent, the USA. In the UK over recent years, the right to protest, one of a democracy's main requirements, has been severely limited by government. Weapons are still being sold to Israel, even though the vast majority of the people are against it. The USA still uses its bases in the UK to attack Iran, even though the majority of the people don't agree with that either. We were tricked out of the EU, and even now, with the damage of Brexit still growing, the government are not simply saying let's rejoin, it was a mistake to leave.

So we clearly don't have a democracy in the true sense of the word.

Now let's look at a country like Saudi Arabia, who are ruled by a man with absolute power. But from my experience, having lived there many years ago and, more recently, visiting a very good Saudi friend there, the people are happy, content, and well-fed. Crime is almost non-existent. Generosity is the norm.

So, my conclusion is that a benevolent absolute ruler, is perhaps better than a democracy where leaders do what they like, with almost no input from their people. But a bad dictatorship is the worst option, should people ever be given an option, which is rare nowadays.