Few people would say that Rome had rule of law and not rule of men. Incidentally, I've read (and have not seen contradictory evidence) that no text of the Twelve Tables exists. As important as it was, no one seems to have documented it...
There's a lot of Roman history that was lost after the fall. For as much as there is, a lot of it references other work and only just touches on it - basically a tease for historians.
Depends on how broad your definition of democracy is really, you could use that same quote to describe most western "democracies" prior to the 20th century.
Agreed. Go back in time, stomp a butterfly and everything changes. Take out a huge chunk of our cultural development and all bet's are off. We're left only with unbridled speculation. Still, it is interesting to share such speculation.
Did the short story have the time-travelers return to the present, to be attacked by packs of baboon-lizard-dogs roaming the city that is somehow still intact even though the timeline changes wiped out most of the human race?
This bit makes for a decent template. [~insert most any group here~] are like drug addicts. They're both a form of mental escape from a shitty life, they'll use it to rationalize and justify almost any behavior, many of both groups will try and convert you, and most of the time when you get hooked it's for life. Here are a few easy entries - Political Partisans Sports Fans Trekkies Furries Karaoke Singers
Here's the short story A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury in its entirety. It's a quick, worthwhile read.
Galileo's Enlightenment included his belief that Catholicism and Heliocentrism weren't at odds. Turns out he was right. As for Newton "Although his methodology was strictly logical, Newton still believed deeply in the necessity of a God. His theological views are characterized by his belief that the beauty and regularity of the natural world could only "proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." He felt that "the Supreme God exists necessarily, and by the same necessity he exists always and everywhere." Newton believed that God periodically intervened to keep the universe going on track."
Yeah, I totally remember all those times Furries defended slavery as morally correct until it became unprofitable to do so. And the Karaoke Singers sheltering pedophiles among their ranks and refusing to report them with the authorities. And Trekkies trying to ban birth control! Who could have missed that? Were you always this bad at defending your faith, or did I just not notice until recently?
Well, there are a lot of dumb shit Trekkies out there who seem to think a fictional society where scarcity and want have been eliminated by magical unlimited power supplies for matter replicators is evidence that some kind of socialistic model of civilization where everyone is just handed what they need and never has to work at anything they don't like is not only realistic, but the height of social enlightenment. So some of them would impose some really awful shit if they were in control, too. Never a more appropriate use of this smilie.
Spewing that low grade hyperbole your toga must... Apologies, I just haven't interest enough for a proper reply. Hey, it's not like you put a lot of effort into your response!
I suggest you do some learning. The word "libertarian" originally referred to a variety of left-wing thought. It was only recently co-opted by the American Right.
So, "left-wing" = "socialist"? You sure you want to commit that statement to record? There are a few "left-wing" thoughts I'd support as compatible with my own ideas of libertarianism, but none of them involve nationalizing private industry or a "command economy" ( ).
Your reading comprehension is really, really poor. Congratulations. Of course, I don't desire a command economy either.
