If I were an optimist, I'd likely have ended up a proponent of authoritarian political systems. It would then be natural to believe that only noble and enlightened individuals would end up in positions of authority. The world would be run by the best of us, and guided in a manner that would benefit the vast majority of us.

However, as a pessimist I tend to believe the corrupt or maliciously incompetent will assume positions of authority. The world will often be run by those were either born into it, took power by subterfuge or force, or simply wandered into it by chance, and they will be guided in manner that will benefit only themselves and their associates.

I'm strangely comfortable with this.