"The causes and motives of seditions are, innovation in religion; taxes; alteration of laws and customs; breaking of privileges; general oppression; advancement of unworthy persons; strangers; dearths; disbanded soldiers; factions grown desperate; and what soever, in offending people, joineth and knitteth them in a common cause....



"Above all things, good policy is to be used, that the treasure and moneys, in a state, be not gathered into few hands. For otherwise a state may have a great stock, and yet starve. And money is like muck, not good except it be spread. This is done, chiefly by suppressing, or at least keeping a strait hand, upon the devouring trades of usury, ingrossing great pasturages, and the like."

- Francis Bacon, "Of Seditions And Troubles"

Innovation in religion, check.

Taxes, check.

Alteration of laws and customs, check.

Breaking of privileges, check.

General oppression, check.

Advancement of unworthy persons, check.

Strangers, check.

Dearths, check.

Disbanded soldiers, check.

Factions grown desperate, not yet.

Washington, we may have a problem:And as for suppressing the devouring trade of usury, well, the economy may be in the doldrums and the employment/population ratio is down, but at least the stock market and the big banks are doing well.

Labels: decline and fall, history