Why limit it to governments. Always when certain people have power over other people, they value a small advantage to themselves higher than a big disadvantage to the others or the general well being. It's not that all people are acting like this, but such people tend to compete hardest for positions of power which often leads to one such person gaining that position at some point.
Doesn't matter if government, company, NGO, newspaper, soccer club, church. Whatever offers power over other people has this disadvantage.
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Why limit it to governments. Always when certain people have power over other people, they value a small advantage to themselves higher than a big disadvantage to the others or the general well being. It's not that all people are acting like this, but such people tend to compete hardest for positions of power which often leads to one such person gaining that position at some point.
Doesn't matter if government, company, NGO, newspaper, soccer club, church. Whatever offers power over other people has this disadvantage.