FairAndUNbalanced's podcast

Categories

Political News
general
Policy, Political News
Racism
sexism
Election Fraud
Domestic Terrorism
Foreign Policy, Political News, Obama
Policy, Political News, War
Political News, Racism, War
Political News, Insider Trading
Patriotism
Policy
Religion
History, News
Politics and Bigotry
Policy, Abortion
Capital Punishment
National Security
Scandal and Politics
National Tragedy
Nuclear Arms Race
Policy, Guns, NRA
Political Criticism
Refugees
Political Responsibility
Politics, Tradition, Bigotry
History, National Security
Terrorism and Bigotry
Religion, Policy
Politics, Bigotry, and Immigration
National Security, Nuclear Weapons
Politics and Stupidity
National Security, Ignorance, Trump
Political Freedom
Voting Rights
Political Freedom, Economics
Politics and Courage
Legal, Political History
Politics and Dishonesty
Executive Chaos
Crime and Government
Politics and Humor
Political Corruption
Patriotism and Treason
Academic Freedom
Policy and Politics
Payoffs, Blackmail
Corruption and Justice
Law and Justice
Politics and Murder
Immigration, Trump
Politics and Immigration
History and Racism
Scandal
Obstruction
National Security, Secrecy
Impeachment
Politics, Policy, Bigotry
Believe It Or Not
American Ideals

Archives

2020
July
June
May
April

2019
November
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
January

2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March

March 2024
S M T W T F S
     
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Syndication

Professor Ian Morris of Stanford University knows how to sell his work. He has just published a book the central thesis of which is that war, over the long range, is good. The implication is that we should want more of it, because war brings peace.

He has written the short version in an article published by the Washington Post last week. His logic isn't hard to follow. War leads to to expansion, which leads to empire, which leads to law, which leads to order, which is ... well ... peace. What holds it all together is economic interest.

Empires were established to enrich those who ran the base countries. Romans wanted to tax dominated subjects. It was messy, but it worked. They put taxing franchises up for local bid in the conquered provinces. Those individuals who paid enough for the privilege were given their quotas. At tax time, they sent the required amount to Rome. If they collected more, they were allowed to pocket the difference.

That pretty much explains how tax collectors are viewed in the New Testament, and why the fact that Jesus would occasionally commune with them was a potent accusation. Tax collectors were not popular people.

 

But empires also benefited from trade. Trade routes were protected from lawlessness. Trade had the unintended effect, from the viewpoint of the rulers, of benefiting both sides of each bargain. The Empire was enriched, and so were those in conquered territories.

- More -

Direct download: Peace_Through_Forever_War.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:49pm EDT