When they do get reformed, it’s usually because autocrats force the changes through (as with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Mao Zedong). “A big reason spelling systems never seem to get overhauled in more liberal societies is that those in a position to change the rules have learned the old ones. Put another way, the type of folk who were once good at spelling bees now run the world. Those who would benefit most from reform, meanwhile, hardly have a voice.” – The Economist
