If most people think of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, they imagine a cinematic cataclysm. Fat soft Romans lying around feasting at orgies when the barbarians sweep through like the Nazi blitzkrieg and _ bang _ the dark ages. In fact the decline took 400 or 500 years, far longer than the United States has been in existence.
I’ve just read a fascinating book _ Tales of the Early Franks _about what became France in the years 550 to 580. This was after Rome fell and its armies were gone and barbarians did as they wished regardless of law and custom. But just before the truly dark ages.
The amazing thing is that, for many, life just went on. It is harder to destroy a bureaucracy than an army. It’s too convenient. It keeps people in line and collects taxes. Lots of folks in those years hunkered down, did what they always did, and endured periodic barbarian rampages as best they could.
The hallmark of barbarians is cult leadership in tribal groups that ignore all laws and simply do whatever they want for momentary thrills, sense of power, and childish vanity. As the tribes become smaller and more fragmented, their infighting destroys everything around them. That’s the real result of most “small government,” which usually degenerates into “rule by the local gang lords.” Like the old American wild west.
Our current barbarians are everywhere, rising like scum to follow leaders whose only desire is power. And “normal” people react “normally” and go about their lives as best they can.
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 