h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm a Merchant navy Captain myself; but I've always admired the exploits of Blackbeard and his like.
I was particul;arly interested to hear that you don't consider him to have been a sadistic man; and that his actions amounted to nothing worse than the general behaviour of one Nation against another.
The most interesting thread I've found about Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy is the enactment of Democracy aboard their vessels; I wonder why this occurred in such an environment? was it pure, evident need which drove these desperate men to choose their leader in such a way?
The answer to this may have much deeper meaning for the workings of our own system of Government.