I've always connected the steerer of the "Ship of State" to the wise legislator-type. Really, though, contemporary society is steered by the executive, with consent of the legislature. Plato noticeably sneers at these administrator-types throughout his dialogues, likening all of them to demagogues. But it's the low-borne who, by necessity, have to rally the people to get into a position of power. The high borne legislators who are, by nature, conservative (not in the modern sense) don't want to change society. Under any democracy with money as an element, the low-borne are friends of the revolutionary.
So what does Plato want? Well, he wants to pull the desire for wealth from those in power. That will be the great Platonic experiment- banking that the absence of wealth and material comfort will create a philosopher king and not a demagogue, a refined law giver and not a low administrator.
So what does Plato want? Well, he wants to pull the desire for wealth from those in power. That will be the great Platonic experiment- banking that the absence of wealth and material comfort will create a philosopher king and not a demagogue, a refined law giver and not a low administrator.