Limitations

Aristotle spends quite a bit of time in Politics to make a few points clearly. One is the difference between submission as a slave and the kind of submission between equals that benefits them all. Good investors need good management and good management needs good workers. None of the positions are inferior but they have unique skills and as they cooperate good things happen. Without investors, the money isn't there to build a company. Without good management or with poor workers, a company becomes a bad investment. Retirements are affected. The goal of a good civil government is for everyone to excel and get a good living out of what they invest their time in.

The difference between slavery and cooperation are their limitations. A slave doesn't have a life but is controlled in every aspect. Forms of vice based in pleasures can make a person slave to them also.  A person that can set their own limits is someone who is free. When we talk about rights, this is what it means; the ability to self-determine. It is true with our passions and is also true when it comes to pursuing happiness as a community. Setting our own limits to how we are governed and for ourselves is put in a negative light by those who desire control and submission. But freedom and civility is a system of limited mutual agreements for benefit of each individual. Having a good community benefits all the participants. Wanting to realize benefits for ourselves when we give of our time and investment isn't unreasonable but should be encouraged. The question becomes about what areas we are willing to cede over to others and what we will get out of it.

It is interesting that Aristotle gave a comparison between managing a household and health. He explained that goods for household use were easier to define for both the leader of the household and a statesman. But health and commerce are much harder to define. The relationship between a doctor and a patient are between themselves and the decisions concerning it belong to each individual. What each person needs health-wise is hard to universally define and is determined by numerous factors. You cannot be too healthy. But we can come to agreements on tangible things that are required for a household and make things easier to get.

We can't all hold cattle in our backyard to trade for things and so civil societies come up with a system of coin that represents barter. A certain amount will buy certain things and what we produce can be traded in the same way with other countries.  Business outside household needs is a hard area to define and has few limits. That is why regulation can get complicated. It is hard to sort out the ambitions of those who have ruling authority from the ambitions of business. Of course they both want limits and accuse the other of greed to enable themselves.  But everyone agrees that each citizen should have opportunity to provide well for themselves.

Each skill has it's particular training and education. Businesses and trades want people who are skilled so it would be a natural thing to want to educate them. But when it comes to governing, there seems to be neglect. In a state, each person shares governing and there should be no career politicians.  Therefore every child should be raised up to understand civil government so he can do his part to submit to authority and hold office himself. Understanding both roles is a must. A nation exists as a limited union for protection and uniformity but a state exists for the people to govern themselves in the particulars.