250 years ago, John Adams wrote to celebrate rule “of laws, and not of men.” This is not the fashion in 2026. Populists and communitarians, even when in power, praise community and authenticity while regretting cold rules and impersonal systems.
Life is better when you know a guy. When navigating dizzying bureaucracy, what relief it is to have someone see you and make a special exception just this once! How can it represent progress for a human being to tell you, “Sorry, I cannot do that”?
But attaching authority to roles means you don’t have to know anyone. You can move to a new city and open a bank account. Walk into an office an apply for a license without an introduction. If the answer is no, appeal it someone you have never met.
In each case, institutions create a path that exists before you arrive. You do not first need to earn the decision-maker’s trust, establish a reputation, or find an middleman. You only have to meet the published requirements. Everybody gets a fair shot.
This is a civilization that scales.