The origin of the word “lot” is the Teutonic hleut, which was the pebble that priests and judges cast to make decisions. It is also the source of the Italian lotteria, and the French loterie, which eventually came to refer to games of chance. However, in both Dutch and English, the word “lot” also refers to man’s destiny. The two uses of the word are not accidental. When risks are incalculable, political leaders must still point to some legitimating justification for their decisions.
Rulers have always created institutions that centralized and legitimized decisions, guided by religion, astrology, and—today—by elaborate models wearing masks of “science.” A better approach would see a variety of qualified people, financed by diverse sources, making independent decisions and pursuing a variety of solutions when societies face unprecedented situations.
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