Antique History, Democracy - Slow Boat To China

Ancient Greece lifted the souls of men ofWhen free, the First Founding Father George
imagination and thoughts they had wanted toWashington did as no Napoleon would ever do. He
express for ages. But in ancient Egypt there wasrefused to be crowned king, and stepped down
no time for that; all rules and thoughts of anyafter two terms, in order to not set a precedent,
worth were by decree by the reigning Pharaoh ofor appoint a son as his heir.
Egypt.And now, as the Adam Smith example of Hong
Greece was a land that, like Rome next door didKong and Japan and Singapore and Malaysia
have a winter when the people could not growproved that well regulated free capitalism provides
crops and had to be able to survive an occasionalmore riches than the common poverty of state
winter blast unknown in fortunate Egypt.For manycontrol by those who understand party politics but
months each year in Athens or Rome thehave long lost connection by a fair election to
weather would not allow crops to grow, and ithear what the people want.
was a matter of ample food storage.A court mandarin who does not need to face the
And always, there was ample fresh food inpeople for approval in elections can make many
Egypt, where the frosts never followed.Threedecrees and have the army carry them out. Up
crops a year were common, and to hungryto a point.
people to see the abundance of crops and figsDemocracy is not in China yet, but in these
and dates dropping from their trees onto thestorms we notice a very nervous leadership out
ground uneaten, caused visitors such wonderment.there with a megaphone asking forgiveness for
Egypt was the bread basket of thethe weather and that the army was not quicker
Mediterranean, where ships would line up at theto help.
mighty wharfs created by Alexander to supplyIf you were the Mighty Khan inside the Forbidden
the known world within this vast sea, and pull inTemple might you also not quake. The times are
and enjoy the riches. But being free to speakmost certainly changing. And we feel that is a
your mind was not allowed in ancient Egypt. Nor,good, if belated thing.
for long was free speech allowed in Roman times.As we have had the good fortune to have been
The idea of theaters to act out actual events ledbrought up to understand capitalism and
to free discussions in Athens between free men,democracy as if it is a given. And around the
some at least.world in too many places it is not that yet at all.
Thomas Jefferson and others saw in America aYet it is coming. And hopefully one day other
new Greek Democracy of free Men in a Newgrand parents can share the joy of one such as I,
World, and it has come to be, imperfect butwho is amazed at this new generation again. My
evolving well.grand daughters are on the net more often than
The founding fathers of what came to beat the mall, or watching the television. History
America considered the ways of Imperial Romewould seem to make it inevitable that free
and Democratic Greece. Wisely, they chose thespeech and this range of personal choice will soon
democracy of Greece and a vote for all. Thismake it through the remaining shreds of the
would be a far superior means of creating abamboo or silk curtain.
nation. Gone should be the days of a Caesar orAnd we think that is a very good thing.
Kaiser or Czar or Emperor.