[Pharmboy]

Let's see if this thread can avoid somebody posting "Bush's fault."

[Sam Cree]

"He added that for many, if not most people, the development of civilisation meant a harder life, less freedom, and more inequality."

That less freedom thing is true today...it explains why the rural areas vote "red," and why urban ones vote "blue." Freedom has to be automatically curtailed by crowded conditions, one's actions are much more likely to infringe on the freedom of others' actions in an urban environment than a rural one. Rural folk are used to making their own decisions, urban ones are far more used to authority, which they rely on.

[BJClinton]

Pharmboy's fault.

The dude's premise would seem to hold true in many other instances. Why did the Americas and Africa lag so far behind? Perhaps they did not go through the trauma of climate change and thus were not forced to 'civilize'. Living in abundant flora and fauna they had no need to advanced agriculture or commerce.

[tioga]

Let's see if this thread can avoid somebody posting "Bush's fault."

Mmmm, you already posted it first.

[CobaltBlue]

Let's see if this thread can avoid somebody posting "Bush's fault."

Amen, brother. From your lips to God's ears.

I believe that kings and suchlike are the functional equivalent of the Mafia. They demand tribute or else. The only useful function they serve is "protection" from other Mafia dons and their goon squads.

I am a city lover, myself. Cities are exciting places full of interesting people doing interesting things. Innovations spread faster, and are improved faster, due to crossing back and forth between an aggregation of people with many different abilities.

[Dustbunny]

Interesting !!!