Practical idealism

The form of constitution that replaced feudalism and absolutism was democracy; the form of government, plutocracy. Today democracy is a facade of plutocracy: because nations would not tolerate a pure form of plutocracy, they were granted nominal powers, while real power is in the hands of plutocrats. In republican democracies as in monarchical ones, the statesmen are puppets, the capitalists are the puppeteers; they dictate policy guidelines, they govern by buying the public opinion of voters and, through professional and social relations, ministers. In place of the feudal structure of society, the plutocracy has taken over; birth is no longer the decisive factor for social rank, but income. The plutocracy of today is more powerful than the aristocracy of yesterday: because no one is above it except the state, which is its instrument and helper. When there was still a true blood nobility, the system of aristocracy by birth was fairer than that of today's money aristocracy: because then the ruling caste had a sense of responsibility, culture and tradition, while the ruling class today lacks a sense of responsibility, culture and tradition.