10 ms·
Expanding government power isn’t inherently tyrannical. But tyrants expand government power for their own benefit. There’s nothing inherently tyrannical about
by vnchr 4y ago
Expanding government power isn’t inherently tyrannical. But tyrants expand government power for their own benefit.
There’s nothing inherently tyrannical about bread or circuses (unless you’re gluten intolerant or fear clowns). Are you familiar with the use of bread and circuses in the Roman Empire?
“The evil was not in bread and circuses, per se, but in the willingness of the people to sell their rights as free men for full bellies and the excitement of the games which would serve to distract them from the other human hungers which bread and circuses can never appease.”
Besides that, I think I already addressed your point if reread with good will.
- lifeisstillgood 4y agoIt's worth noting that during the middle republic and early imperial years (say the 200-200s) Rome was possibly the most unequal (but still successful) society history has known. The senatorial class owned pretty much everything - and they gave it away on a daily basis in return for power - vote for Brutus and get bread to feed your family. It's hard as a free Roman to get a job working for Caser when old Julius has slaves for everything he can possibly need. The jobs available were basically legionnaire or subsistence farmer (the big farms were worked by ... slaves). If people today think immigrants are coming to take their jobs, just imagine how slavery looks