I don’t agree with the author’s facile dismissal of the vast difference in tax burden, interference in private lives, etc. between modern democracies and the old way. The bankruptcy, total war, hypercentralization, etc. of the last century just weren’t possible before. Granted, you take the good with the bad. Before you were a serf and a pariah if the priest didn’t like you, and now you work half the year for the feds and can be drafted to die overseas with no one in particular knowing why, but at least you have computers and fast food.
I don’t agree with it either, but found it an interesting read nonetheless. The author was also a surviving member of the Habsburg Dynasty, which ruled much of mainland Europe for about 700 years so he is obviously a bit biased. He passed away about a year or so ago. Ironically, the previously mentioned Philip II of Spain was also a Habsburg.