How the Arabian Nights can inform proper roles for government and the electorate

The “One Thousand and One Nights” is a well-known collection of folktales compiled at the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age. The Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who ruled from 786 to 809, is credited for having assembled one of the main collections of these tales, also known as the Arabian Nights.

Harun al-Rashid, one of the most famous rulers of the Abbasid era and the contemporary of Charlemagne in France, is featured in some of the stories themselves. It is interesting to note that many of the contemporary stories, such as “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” or “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” were added by European translators at the beginning of the 18th century.

Islamic folklore recounts the encounter of Caliph Harun al-Rashid and a beggar during a pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca. It is reported that Harun al-Rashid’s caravan stopped because of a commotion at the front of the caravan. The Caliph was informed that a beggar was refusing to let the caravan pass until he met with him. Being a just and dedicated ruler, the Caliph agreed to meet with the beggar and allow him to explain why he was hindering the caravan’s passage.

The beggar pleaded his case in a solemn voice and spoke of Judgment Day, when every soul would be brought to account for its deeds. The beggar told the Caliph that he was responsible only for himself as an individual, but that the Caliph was responsible for the health and welfare of every one of his subjects. He then reminded the Caliph of the obligation of government to provide for the most destitute and most vulnerable elements of society.

Upon looking at the emaciated body of the beggar, the Caliph had tears in his eyes and acknowledged that he had failed at his duties, since there were individuals in his kingdom who were not fed or clothed properly. The Caliph arranged for the beggar to join his caravan and he promised him that the state would redress his situation and that of others like him upon his return from the Hajj.

These wise words of a beggar remind us of the three responsibilities every government has toward its citizens: to protect, to provide and to invest in its people.

The oldest and simplest role of government is to protect citizens from violence, which can arise from each other or from foreign foes. A government must also enact laws to protect its minorities so that their rights are not trampled by those of the majority. In fact, in a civilized society, laws are mostly passed to protect minorities from the domination or oppression of the majority.

With little to no government, a failed state can easily descend into an environment of unrelenting insecurity and ensuing violence from warring factions or gangs.

The idea of government as protector requires the levy of taxes to fund, train and equip a police force and a regular army, to build courts and jails, and to elect or appoint the officials who pass and implement laws in a society. Regarding foreign threats, government should be able to engage diplomatically with other countries as well as fight them if necessary.

In the early days of America, a minimalist view of government comprised the president, Congress, Supreme Court, and the departments of Treasury, War, State and Justice.

The next responsibility of government is as provider of the social welfare state. Government can be of great help and assistance to those who cannot fend for themselves, particularly during the vulnerable conditions of youth, old age, sickness, disability and unemployment due to economic forces beyond one’s control.

It baffles the mind when a government panders to the wealthiest members of society and allows its most vulnerable people to freeze and die in the streets during harsh winter nights. Regarding the health and welfare of its citizens, the United States is still the only country in the developed world that does not have a universal health care system. Sadly, it is also the only wealthy country in the world without any guaranteed paid parental leave at the national level.

Finally, a third responsibility of government is to invest in its future citizens by providing them with a quality education and quality health care that will improve the lives and conditions of all members of society. In this country, public education is free from kindergarten to grade 12. However, the cost of higher education has significantly increased in recent decades, making it very hard for today’s students to get a degree without taking on significant student debt. An option for low-income students is to start at a community college, which is less expensive than a public or private university.

Before every election, it is vital to scrutinize a candidate’s political agenda and ask the question before voting: Will this candidate protect, provide and invest in our state? If the answer is no to any of those, I stay away from that individual, irrespective of party affiliation.