In a country like ours, that likes to think of itself as a republic, rulers might adopt any of three different patterns for the relationship between themselves and ordinary people, three different attitudes toward their role:

Reader's Query:

Sometimes people say, “Truth is relative, so if I say there is a God, then there is, and if you say there isn’t a God, then there isn't.”  How would you reply?  I think this statement is similar to "I have my beliefs and you have yours, so let's agree to disagree."

Query:

I've read various explanations of socialism and communism, but they aren’t clear.  Such phrases as "owned by the community," for example, sound vague and ominous to me.  Would you consider defining and differentiating these two things at your website?

There is a lot to dislike about the president.  Mr. Trump is a sneerer, mocker, boaster, and person of bad character.  But Mr. Obama (like his vice president) was also a sneerer, mocker, boaster, and person of bad character.

The current system of education, both lower and higher, is getting ready to implode -- not as quickly as some expect, but much more quickly than others think, and the higher will go first.

Some have asked how to replace the system (for example with video instruction by superstars).