…EXPLAINED USING COWS!

Advantages: protects individual rights, input is taken from many different sources, people elect their government

Disadvantages: takes more time to make decisions, more costly

Examples: Canada, Japan, Australia

You have two cows. After milking your cows, you and your

neighbors all vote on who should get the milk. Majority rules!

Advantages: organized and efficient; there are no public protests or riots

Disadvantages: limited individual rights, uncertain transition of power, usually dependent on the military, no debate, no free press, no opposition parties

Examples: Sudan, North Korea, VenezuelaSynonyms: dictatorship, authoritarianism

You have two cows.The Supreme Leader orders the military to take

the cows, and gives you nothing for themIf you complain about it, they put you in jail, draft

you into the army, or shoot you

Advantages: stable, controlled, traditional, unifying Disadvantages: No criteria (other than birth) for

ruling, expensive, monarch is remote from everyday people, limited individual rights, no voting

Examples: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Monaco

You have two cows.The monarch, who just happens to have been

born into the right family, makes you give him ½ the milk so he can get it for free

If you complain, the monarch will take both your cows and the milk.

Advantages: if a law needs to be passed that will benefit the people, it can be passed very quickly. Control is centralized.

Disadvantages: complete loss of individual rights & freedoms

Example: Italy under Benito Mussolini

You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk

If you disagree, they send in soldiers to shoot either you or your cows

You join an underground resistance group

Advantages: All members of the economy share benefits. High level of services

Disadvantages: High taxes, lack of incentives to work hard

Examples: Sri Lanka, Holland, Denmark.

You have two cowsThe government makes you give one to your

neighbour, so that you are both equalYou get to keep one glass of milk each day, but

you have to give the rest of the milk to the government

Advantages: In times of need, everyone gets their fair share (slogan: “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”)

Disadvantages: very limited political freedoms, lack of individual rights

Examples: China, Russia (pre 1991), Vietnam, Cuba

The State takes both and gives you some milk

Advantages: unity, no debates over religion, punishments for offences are usually clear, citizens tend to be obedient

Disadvantages: No separation between church and state, some citizens forced to express beliefs against their will

Examples: Vatican City is a theocratic state.

You have two cows. The government tells you that if you want to

keep your cows and continue farming, you have to follow the religion of the leaders.

Advantages—individuals can do whatever they want without interference from the government, no taxes

Disadvantages—no government services are provided, people are left to fend for themselves

Examples: Parts of the Congo and Somalia are near a state of anarchy. In many instances, warlords are ruling portions of the nations.

You have two cows. Power hungry thugs (formerly your

neighbours) come to steal them and kill you and your whole family

There are no laws or police to protect you.

You have two cows.

You go on strike because you want three cows.

You go to lunch and drink wine.Life is good.

You have two cows.

You feed them sheep’s brains and they go mad.

The government doesn't do anything.

You have two cows.

You sell one and buy a bull.

Go away! What I do with my cows is my own business.

Actually, I pretty much let the cows do whatever they want anyway…

You are associated with* two differently- aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of a non-specified gender.

* the concept of “ownership” is a symbol of our elitist, warmongering, intolerant past

a modern movement in art and literature that tries to express unusual things in the subconscious mind

Example: Salvador Dali

You have two aardvarks.

The government paints one green and requires you to take harmonica lessons.