[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Oppressing most of the citizens in the nation may be stable, but it certainly isn't right. And that is exactly what Feudalism is based upon: systematic oppression of the lower class by a very small upper class.

And that's different from American capitalism how? Because sometimes a member of the lower class can fight, claw, scheme and con his way into the upper class where he can join in the repression of the lower class?

The whole discussion of stability reminds me of my participation in a "Model United Nations Security Council" back in High School (over 15 years ago now; I feel old... ). Anyway, this was back when the USSR was occupying Afghanistan, and one of the resolutions we were debating was whether the USSR should end it's occupation. The argument against the resolution centered around the fact that the occupying forces had stabilized the country of Afghanistan. The argument for the resolution was that the "stability" only existed by force of arms and was therefore unsustainable, not to mention that it was stifling free expression and obviously ran contrary to the wishes of the general population. I think the resolution was eventually voted down, mainly because the Security Council was set up to allow any one of the "big 5" (US, USSR, China, England, and one other) to single-handedly veto any particular resolution (IIRC; it may have required 2 vetos).

I have to say, this is one of the more intellectual discussions we've had in a while here. I think we need to drink more mead and get back to random carousing and cartoon violence...