King Solomon

Three centuries before Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu (see prior post), King Solomon observed a parallel between increased royalty (or bureaucrats), with increased immorality among the people; "for the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof" (Pr 28:2). Whether it is government perceiving an urgency to rule more aggressively a growing unruliness, or the people's growing covetousness petitioning government for more "free" goods and services, the parallel has been observed by others since antiquities, often the latter as the cause empirically.

Now, Solomon was no friend of Individualism, for he was a monarch thus propensities towards Despotism, Absolutism, per being raised most privileged socially to become most privileged politically. Yet quite interestingly, he made the parallel nevertheless while I'm sure he interpreted his observation as "an urgency to rule more aggressively a growing unruliness" via his monarchical distorted prism.

From promising a chicken in every pot, two cars in every garage to a house and American dream for every family, social retirement for every senior, as well jobs, cell phones, internet access, student loans, trigger warning signs, and now healthcare, tuition, basic income guarantee, and the endlessly idolatrous worship (of flags and heroes) per perpetually glorious wars, the US government steadily expanded it's princedom in parallel to popularly expanded envy even overt lust.

Note:
The painting is The Judgment of Solomon (1617) by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). And thanks to Chodorov's book of essays Out of Step, particularly one essay regarding Joseph of Biblical antiquities.

Come let us Reason (Is 1:18). Peace is always a Choice (Mt 5:9).

Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath (2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23).