Democracy lasts only until constituents discover that their vote is the key to the public treasury. When all the politicians agree, they are wrong. When the politicians do not agree, they are still wrong. Ten per cent of income is a historically reasonable and stable tax rate. Things that can't continue, don't.
History is made by idealists, so flames consume everything and blood flows in torrents.
The barbarians are at the gates. The tax man cometh. If you build it, they will come. Progress is an illusion. John Robson is Senior Writer and Deputy Editorial Pages Editor.