The God of the Machine - Tranche #10
Chapter IV, Excerpt 1 of 1
Rome as an Exhibit of the Nature of Government
Egypt was fossilized by government ownership of the land; the absolute power of government made the country a helpless prey of invaders. Private property was the norm with the Athenians; but they tried to impose monopolies on commerce with their colonies. Carthage was a corporative state. When the enterprisers of any nation tapped a source of trade, the sought to use political power to impound the flow completely.
The Romans were not primarily traders, having been engaged with their great problem of finding the political principle. Rome was strictly a consumer of material goods. The whole energy which sustained the empire as a going concern came from outside the imperial city. It arose from the private effort and intelligence, from the enterprise and labor of individuals, who asked in return – simply to be let alone. It reveals a peculiar negative; during her regime, Rome contributed nothing to the actual, productive processes.
The extractions of the bureaucracy increased, and the number of officials multiplied. The producers, receiving less and less in exchange for their products, were impoverished and discouraged. Naturally, they tended to produce less. The tax eaters had absorbed the energy. The routes of the barbarian migrations simply followed the main trade routes. There was nothing to stop them.
Rome as an Exhibit of the Nature of Government
Egypt was fossilized by government ownership of the land; the absolute power of government made the country a helpless prey of invaders. Private property was the norm with the Athenians; but they tried to impose monopolies on commerce with their colonies. Carthage was a corporative state. When the enterprisers of any nation tapped a source of trade, the sought to use political power to impound the flow completely.
The Romans were not primarily traders, having been engaged with their great problem of finding the political principle. Rome was strictly a consumer of material goods. The whole energy which sustained the empire as a going concern came from outside the imperial city. It arose from the private effort and intelligence, from the enterprise and labor of individuals, who asked in return – simply to be let alone. It reveals a peculiar negative; during her regime, Rome contributed nothing to the actual, productive processes.
The extractions of the bureaucracy increased, and the number of officials multiplied. The producers, receiving less and less in exchange for their products, were impoverished and discouraged. Naturally, they tended to produce less. The tax eaters had absorbed the energy. The routes of the barbarian migrations simply followed the main trade routes. There was nothing to stop them.
As does the current fedgov to its "allies."
It isn't "for their own good", nor "for the greater good", nor to bring them (or to protect) democracy.
It's just evil "might makes right." Power corrupts all people.
Therefore, government must only have barely enough power to enforce its very limited purposes,
and no option to expand power or purposes.
Rome didn’t fall due to lack of military might. Rome fell because the average Roman citizen grew weary of propping up a corrupt imperium through their time and efforts.
go Galt!
This is, precisely, what happened to America in 1913 with the passage of the 17th Amendment. The Constitution required the State Legislatures to vote on the two Senators to represent the interests of that State in Washington D.C. The States and the Senate represented “…the pressure of latent revolt…” The Federal Government had to pay heed to the possible separatist revolution and act accordingly. The direct election of Senators by the people eliminated the threat of separation and the energy began flowing toward D.C. Today, we think of ourselves, primarily, as Americans and not as Coloradans or New Jerseyites.
The spirit of revolution has been extinguished. A State(s)-led revolt to curtail the power of the Federal government and its millions of employees and thousands of contractors is impossible.
Our predatory animal instinct is the magnet for wealth and power. It is our nature to consume (food, wealth, power, etc.) until we burst or die of starvation (the tax eaters had absorbed the energy).
We will stand a better chance at maintaining our freedom and more uniform power when we build more localized institutions.
On the other hand, the tendency for 90% of population to prefer "sheephood" over personal responsibility -- localization creates Puritanism/Cults where the populace give over their rights to the local wolf.
We have lost to the barbarians. Rome devolved into many kingdoms/tribes with the investment of death/misery. At this point, no more hand ringing. Prepare. Find your gulch.