A "bad" precedent
This impasse, however, in which the
countries seem to be stuck today,
is it indeed true, or does it only appear
so to us, because we look at it from
the wrong angle?
Could there be a solution perhaps?
Suffice it to dare to think differently
and see things from another angle?
Imagine that there is a solution,
and we do not see it because we observe
the problem from the wrong perspective,
believing certain things as facts and inevitable,
while in fact they are not.
Imagine that this
situation has happened before,
that is, that democracy
ceased to work in a state
because of excessive
concentration of wealth,
and people found a solution
to the impasse.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to find such an
example in history and copy the solution?
Well, there is actually such an example,
and it is worth remembering.
Around 600 BC the still young democracy
of the city of Athens was in a similar dilemma.
Not the state itself, since the state still hadn't
its present-day structure, but the citizens
were all indebted to a few rich creditors.
Indebted to such an extent, that after they had
given whatever they had, (their land, their
livestock, their own houses) they were at the
end sold as slaves to the rich.
Just as today, the states are enslaved
to their creditors.
Democracy was not functioning anymore.
The rich had acquired all the wealth,
all the power.
The game was over.
Can you remember the game Monopoly?
If you acquire all the wealth, then the game is over.
Something like that is the picture today.
Only that it is not limited by the boundaries of a
city
(which was then for its inhabitants, the whole world),
but covers the whole world.
All the wealth of the world had been gathered in a few hands.
Back then, in ancient Athens, the situation was very bad.
Democracy was no longer able to regulate the
relations
among the citizens. The conflicts between the rich and
the poor took explosive dimensions. The city had lost
its
old power and activity.
And the external enemies were lying in wait.
Confronted with this impasse and facing the danger
of total
destruction, in 594 BC the Athenians by mutual
agreement
called on Solon and giving him absolute power,
authorized
him to legislate for the salvation of the state and the
restoration
of democracy.
Solon completely overturned
the condition of society.
It was a revolution
without revolution.
There was no need for arrests, deportations,
or imprisonments and executions.
Everything was
regulated
by legislation.
That is, the same thing each
parliament does today.
Each parliament today has exactly the same
unlimited
power to legislate, as was at that time awarded to
Solon.
Nobody can prevent a parliament from legislating
as
it thinks right. When the deputies are of the opinion
that
a certain proposal serves the interests of the state,
they vote it into law, and after that the government
makes sure that the law is applied and respected.
The solution which Solon applied to the problem was very simple.
With only one law he
cancelled
all debts once and for all
(Seisachtheia).
The basic problem of society was solved in a
flash.
A number of other laws regulated the details later.
The rich were very sad.
You can imagine it.
These measures, however, built a society that
brought
the most magnificent benefits to civilization, lasted
for
centuries and even today is admired by all.
On the foundations of the legislation of Solon,
was based the Athenian Democracy that led to
the most amazing period of human history,
the Golden Age.