I believe we were discussing the role of pragmatic fundamentalism in Greek culture, and the negative implications it had for the Early-Modern Phoenician trade cycle.  Now then, the multitudes were, of course, known to bend to the will of the one in power, as so amply demonstrated by Caesar’s dictatorship.  This, I believe was largely founded on the base belief that a man in power was a man that one aught not displease.  There is, however, an alternate possibility, as there always is. 

         I believe Thoreau was the one who was heard to have said, “The foundation of all things, is in its like, built on the principles and theorems that we’ve drawn from the void.” And how well he understood!  Few of the many enlightened people of that time could have thought to encompass the scope of the actions of the people in so few words and with such success, but I digress.  If you would allow me to demonstrate through the use of a hypothetical monarchy? 

         Say that during the reign of the currently presiding monarch a trade caravan arrived carrying a number of goods both coveted and needed by the people, but despised for whatever meaningless reason by the ruler in question.   Now, it may be evident that our “ruler” would have no way to stop the purchase of these unsavory goods and would therefore be powerless to stop said transaction.  But alas!  Every monarchy had it’s own faction of what France called “Secret Police” and would operate under the ideals of pragmatic fundamentalism. 

         Now, wanting to set himself apart from the actions that he’s ordered his police to commit, and that would draw so much unwanted attention, he might order them to keep their identities, credentials, and most of all, the name of the one who gave them their orders secret.  Inevitably though, over an extended period of time one of these agents would talk.  Whether it be because he had been because his conscious had tortured him into submission, or because he had endured a much more material form of suffering I am wont to say, and it matters little to my intended point. 

         Now, our hypothetical ruler has cunningly ensnared himself in his own web of deception.  The masses will inevitably rise and overthrow him.  And in the chaos that ensues martial law will have risen because all other semblance of order will have dissolved.  This of course, includes the economy.  Now, our traders (Phoenicians, if you will,) have very enthusiastically brought about their own demise.  While they were greedily hawking their wares, to peasants and townsmen the were also, if you’ll pardon the pun, “Digging their own graves.”  Now, their source if income gone, the Phoenicians will move on to another source to bleed it dry as well.  This may have been a terribly roundabout way of explaining, but perhaps now you understand where my argument is coming from?