The Greatest Challenge In History

CommonConservative.com ^ | 2/1/06 | Tom Adkins

[KellyAdmirer]

That is an interesting article, but to lay the demise of the Empire solely on taxation requires a certain tunnel vision. The Eastern Empire survived the West for another thousand years, with essentially the same system of taxation. One reads of similar abuses by the tax merchants there hundreds of years after the fall of Rome. Why didn't Constantinople break down at the same time? I don't know the answer, but I don't think the authors of this article do, either. The productivity of the Western Empire suffered a cataclysmic breakdown at some point, but I doubt it was solely the responsibility of taxation. Predatory tribal migrations that could not be stopped no matter how strong the Roman defenses were developed - and they became very sophisticated - is a more likely answer.

[Stormcrow]

"Sticking a stick in your neighbor's eye is not in you best self interest."

Situationally, I beg to differ.

If the neighbor is in the act of threatening your family, the stick is pointed and you make sure it penetrates into the brain cavity - - - -

Very much within the realm of best self interest.

[jonrick46]

Point well made. Situationally, I was thinking in terms of Israel and Palestine. Certainly Palestine needs to be careful with sticks as I would with my neighbor who just gave me a piece of his property to park my Winnebago.