There isn't really a monopoly on governance, though. On the short term there is political alternance, on the long term there is the rise and fall of states. Of

There isn't really a monopoly on governance, though. On the short term there is political alternance, on the long term there is the rise and fall of states. Of course, the first one would matter a lot more if: a) people voted based on previous performance, not vague future promises; b) there were more than two options in competition. As for the second. The second works quite well, but not a time scale that yet cares about well-designed websites... fail to figure out say steel alloys and gunpowder, though, and you'll see this competition in action... ;)