Das Kapital

“It was a hot, dry, sunny day over the Mediterranean, the kind of weather where everyone would prefer to be at the beach if there wasn’t such an enormous amount of power swaying in the balance. The winds were blowing salt off the sea into the caves but with each minute the winds were changing. Greece had thrived for hundreds of years and became a powerhouse of the world - militarily, economically, politically, philosophically, need I go on? Like every great powerhouse though, the power source needs to be replaced every so often so that the light doesn’t go out. Representatives and leaders from all of the Greek city-states were here at the caves by the Athenian sea to discuss what was next after the mess at Mantinea. Eubulus and Demosthenes from Athens, Archidamus III and Pleistoanax II from Sparta, members of the Amphictyonic League with the Oracle from Delphi, and and a slew of desperate but still relevant magistrates from Thebes; Plato and Aristotle were there too as the political influencers, if you will. “Philip II will gobble us all up if we do nothing” warned Eubulus. “The people will gobble us up before Philip if we make them fight another war for us” countered Archidamus. The classic balance of balancing the necessary ills of military might with a full-scale revolt at home. “That goes without saying but what difference is it whether we die at the hands of the mob or some of Philip’s mercenaries?” Demosthenes was no alien to power, coming from generations of high-born Greek blood he saw no worth in living a life without the sweet sweet drink that is power. “We have our general population at relative ease with democracy” offered Eubulus. “Yes a worthy ruse but not the right tool for every city-state Eubulus - your land owning commoners are educated and patriotic, the likes of which not every city-state can boast.” “It was nothing really with the help of a few gymnasia and fine speeches.” “Leave it Eubulus, we’ve discussed this before and we will not waste the day discussing it again - now is not the time for democracy in the rest of Greece” Pleistoanax boomed. There was a stillness in the air, the likes of which every family knows after a father has been challenged on something legitimate but which he cannot now face. The stillness sat in the air, longer than most would let sit at a pivotal moment in history like this. “If I may offer some wisdom from the gods…” the Oracle tried. “The fucking gods” laughed Archidamus - “who the hell are you fooling here Oracle!” She tried again with poise - “If I may offer some wisdom from the gods there can be a system of exchange of land for loyalty amongst the upper-class” the Oracle tried. “It is already starting to work in the East and I fear it will spread here whether we adopt it or it is adopted for us.” “Give away our fucking land? Have you lost your damned mind - that’s where all the wealth and power comes from! I’m not giving one man outside of this cave a goddamn thing!!” It almost didn’t matter who said it because they were all thinking it, but in this case it was again Pleistoanax, booming as always. The Oracle did not push the matter and held her reservations in silence. “What about an invisible hand of sorts?" Offered the wise and sagest of all the men present, Plato. “What about an economic system that rests on supply and demand and gives the illusion of mobility while we secretly hold all the wealth with our land and holdings? It’s sure to appease the masses like Chinese opium while rebuilding our city-states in record time to resist Philip.” No one had ever heard of a political system like this - a political system that was totally disguised as an economic engine for the commoner. “It’ll never work, you are giving the people too much credit - too much freedom, too much responsibility, too much ‘control.’ It’ll never work in Greece, too radical a change for our people now but a brilliant ploy nonetheless.” “I can sell it” Plato pushed back. “If it’s widespread adoption you are worried about then your worries are misplaced - they love me, respect me. Some even worship me. If I say this is their time to rise and the chance to become the noble they’ve always wanted to be they will believe it.” “And how is it that they will build all the skills they need to truly supply the demand?” Wondered the Oracle, with genuine curiosity. “Oh there are plenty of smart commoners - if we actually let them work they will get us whatever we need for nothing more than a few coins a month.” “And how is it that we know we can trust these smart commoners with our secrets and our plans?” added Pleistoanax, with noticeably more skepticism than the Oracle. “Half of them can be bought and the other half divided and before long they will be too deep in their respective camps to stop it. It’s the ultimate truth for any leader who is willing to gamble away some control at the start.” If there was stillness in the air before now there was silence. There was truth and boldness, the likes of which was needed at a pivotal moment in history like this. The fact that it all came from Plato too made it all the more undeniable, but undeniable is not inevitable - especially when dealing with the likes of men. “I hate it. I wouldn’t give an ounce of influence to anyone outside my military who isn’t currently in command. It’s dangerous, unpredictable, and I will not be the fool that loses the reigns of history in Sparta!!!” now exploding where we was only before booming. “I understand that it is a big shift…” “WHAT YOU’LL UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF YOU SAY ANOTHER WORD I’LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!!!!” Pleistoanax was livid - blood to his temples, sweat on and around his brow, hand on the hilt of his sword. Of course he would never do it but just the threat alone showed that he would never agree to Plato’s idea. “You are making a grave mistake. This is the time and any other way will eventually lead to the fall of Greece.” “Then so be it Plato - I’ll fall with my sword in hand rather than like a Trojan fool who let the enemy in.” Pleistoanax grabbed his boys and his scrolls and walked out of the cave. Into the light of the sun and what was left of the salty air Pleistoanax marched with his plans to rule as he always had - with might and grit and force and slaughter. Perhaps there would come others who would control the masses more peacefully in the future but today was not the day to let go of all he ever knew.