> In short, over the course of at least five centuries, the financial system has grown more and more dependent on governmental support. Governments have become

> In short, over the course of at least five centuries, the financial system has grown more and more dependent on governmental support. Governments have become a more and more important part of people's lives. Back in the day your contact with "government" would be the local squire/sheriff. Nowadays you have general defence by a standing army, coast guard, air traffic control, health inspectors, health care, actual police officers / law enforcement (which only came into being as a standing bureaucracy in the 1800s IIRC). Is it any surprise that they've grown into financial fields as much as they have in other areas of society? As civil society and civilization has grown bigger and complex so has the infrastructure around it.