> 2. Despite this, they still managed to acquire great "wealth", which the article defines as infrastructure and public works. This is not surprising at all, since historically even societies that had markets did not usually rely on them for civil engineering projects.
Wouldn't civil engineering be financed by payments in some sort of coinage, valued because of its use in markets?
Perhaps you should learn to kill meanness with love, not more meanness. In this case, YOU are the mean person, and by your own logic, deserve an unhappy life. But I don't think you do deserve that any more than I think you have the right or justification to be mean to a border agent based on some superficial judgement and prejudice against authority figures. Not only is it likely to result in a negative outcome for yourself, but it misses the opportunity to brighten what may very well be an overworked person with a troubled home life and a sick parent. Are you serving humanity better by being mean to them and making them feel miserable, or by smiling and treating them kindly so they may treat the next person better?
You judge people as mean, and then are mean to them. If you can't see how incredibly myopic, narcissistic, and unevolved that makes you sound, I suggest spending less time traveling and more time getting to know your fellow humans.
I imagine it's hard for you to see how arrogant and insensitive it is to rub your success and privilege in the face of the middle class. Think about that twice next time.
You have a great life. Appreciate it but also appreciate others. Being successful doesn't have to mean being a jerk.
A population that believes this strongly in liberties then surrenders after a single 30 minute inconvenience is a greater danger to liberty than the TSA.
Seriously, you have shown you are willing to make zero sacrifice in fighting for your rights. You don't believe in anything. This is the problem with armchair libertarians. You sound tough them surrender at the first sign of difficulty. This does more harm than good.
I was once a great fighter for freedom, democracy, and civil liberties. I battled the system long and hard. Then one day out of a hundred similar travel days, I had to wait 30 minutes for a TSA pat down, probably because a single TSA manager was not following procedure. I realize some great freedom fighters would at least file an official complaint, but I also realized that if one manager one time can make me wait 30 minutes, the terrorists have already won. I surrendered my principles to the police state.
If I had known how hard this fight would be, that a mere mortal man as me would have to wait 30 minutes for a pat down, might even have to miss a flight or submit to a scan and then file a complaint, I never would have become such a great freedom fighter. Fortunately, my ignorance of such trials allowed me to boldly enter the resistance, even if my warrior days were cut short and I failed to fight past 30 minutes of standing on a mat. 30 minutes - what man could be expected to endure this in the name of human liberty?
If your singular judge of freedom and human rights is the annoyances of the TSA, there is a small chance this enormous decision may solve your concern.
If you have other concerns, you're likely to be sadly disappointed by overt corruption, intolerance, censorship, extreme taxation, or other ways your freedom can be violated.
Wouldn't civil engineering be financed by payments in some sort of coinage, valued because of its use in markets?