Modern heads of state are rogues and thieves who plunder the citizens instead of giving them protection. Rogues and thieves plunder without regard for law, but in this age of Kali, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the lawmakers themselves plunder the citizens.

Pirates on the High Seas, Pirates on the High Seats of Government

Rogues and thieves free to plunder in a state without a strong ruler

Specifically significant in this verse is prachina-barhir jivati. The king of that part of the land was known as Barhi, and although he was old, he was still living, and he was a very strong ruler. Thus there was no possibility of an invasion by thieves and plunderers. Indirectly it is stated here that thieves, plunderers, rogues and unwanted population can exist only in a state or kingdom where there is no strong ruler. When, in the name of justice, thieves are allowed liberty, the state and kingdom are disturbed by such plunderers and unwanted population.

Modern heads of state are themselves rogues and thieves

Following the instruction of his father, Maharaja Priyavrata, Maharaja Agnidhra ruled the inhabitants of Jambudvipa according to religious principles. These principles are exactly contrary to the modern principles of faithlessness. As clearly stated here, the King protected the citizens the way a father protects his begotten children. How he ruled the citizens is also described here—dharmavekshamanah, strictly according to religious principles. It is the duty of the executive head of a state to see that the citizens strictly follow religious principles. The Vedic religious principles begin with varnashrama-dharma, the duties of the four varnas and four ashramas [*]. Dharma refers to principles given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The first principle of dharma, or religion, is to observe the duties of the four orders as enjoined by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. According to people's qualities and activities, society should be divided into brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras and then again into brahmacharis, grihasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis. These are religious principles, and it is the duty of the head of state to see that his citizens strictly follow them. He should not merely act officially; he should be like a father who is always a well-wisher of his sons. Such a father strictly observes whether his sons are performing their duties, and sometimes he also punishes them.

Just contrary to the principles mentioned here, the presidents and chief executives in the age of Kali are simply tax collectors who do not care whether religious principles are observed. Indeed, the chief executives of the present day introduce all kinds of sinful activity, especially illicit sex, intoxication, animal killing and gambling. These sinful activities are now very prominently manifested in India. Although a hundred years ago these four principles of sinful life were strictly prohibited in the families of India, they have now been introduced into every Indian family; therefore they cannot follow religious principles. In contrast to the principles of the kings of old, the modern state is concerned only with propaganda for levying taxes and is no longer responsible for the spiritual welfare of the citizens. The state is now callous to religious principles. Srimad-Bhagavatam predicts that in Kali-yuga the government will be entrusted with dasyu-dharma, which means the occupational duty of rogues and thieves. Modern heads of state are rogues and thieves who plunder the citizens instead of giving them protection. Rogues and thieves plunder without regard for law, but in this age of Kali, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the lawmakers themselves plunder the citizens. The next prediction to be fulfilled, which is already coming to pass, is that because of the sinful activities of the citizens and the government, rain will become increasingly scarce. Gradually there will be complete drought and no production of food grains. People will be reduced to eating flesh and seeds, and many good, spiritually inclined people will have to forsake their homes because they will be too harassed by drought, taxation and famine. The Krishna consciousness movement is the only hope to save the world from such devastation. It is the most scientific and authorized movement for the actual welfare of the whole human society.

* - Varnashrama-dharma refers to the organization of society into four social orders (varnas) and within them, four stages of life (ashrams).

The four social orders or divisions are brahmana (the head of society, comprised of thinkers, seers, spiritual counselors, priests & teachers), kshatriya (the arms of society, meaning the rulers, administrators of state, legislators and law enforcement, martial-spirited men), vaishya (the belly of society, referring to those who grow and provide food and harvest minerals and utilise other resources of the land to generate wealth and who also look after the cows), and shudra (the workers - laborers, skilled craftsmen and artists, clerks, etc). The brahmanas are the first-class men, but they do not rule society; that is the duty of the kshatriyas, who are supposed to take advice from the brahmanas, and give protection to all the citizens. All the four classes are meant to contribute their services cooperatively for the welfare of the whole society.

As for the four ashrams, this refers to the stages of life that a man passes through: brahmacharya or celibate student life (from young age - 5 years - till youth), grihastha or married life with family responsibilities, vanaprastha, retirement from work and family obligations in preparation for renunciation of all worldly affairs, and sannyasa or full renunciation - leaving wife, family and home to take up fulltime spiritual activities.