The liberum veto (Latin for “the free veto”) was a parliamentary device in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was a form of unanimity voting rule that allowed any member of the Sejm (legislature) to force an immediate end to the current session and nullify any legislation that had already been passed at the session by shouting Nie pozwalam! (Polish: “I do not allow!”).
It led to massive corruption as foreign powers no longer had to bribe half the assembly but one member only. Harvard political scientist Grzegorz Ekiert, assessing the history of the liberum veto in the Kingdom of Poland, 1569-1795, concludes:
- The principle of the liberum veto preserved the feudal features of Poland’s political system, weakened the role of the monarchy, led to anarchy in political life, and contributed to the economic and political decline of the Polish state. Such a situation made the country vulnerable to foreign invasions and ultimately led to its collapse.
liberum veto is confusing freedom with chaos and enables the powerful to rule. Wisdom and its bind back to Ethics which are the component parts of the natural experience of Grace is the highest form of freedom, and also enables the decentralization people seek. Now just apply that policy concept (Grace) to the economic system.