Visiting Rome it's hard not to think of the anti-government, tea-partiers and "libertarians" (as if anyone is against liberty) as the ancient equivalents of the Goths, Ostrogoths and Visigoths.
All over Rome are evidence of the works of Big Government. The Appian Way, the best and perhaps most important road ever built. The Colosseum. The Baths of Caracalla. All these works were civilizing. They brought trade, entertainment and social 'intercourse' and refinement to a busy and bustling world.
By the time the 6th Century AD rolled around, Rome's armies were extended around the world and the various Goths decided these things were no longer needed. The people were exhausted. Exhausted by taxes, venal politicians and perpetual wars for perpetual peace.
They didn't see it coming but the linchpins of civilization as noted above, were dismantled. Marble was carted away. Buildings great and small fell into disrepair and ruin.
Of course this is a simplification. But the next time you hear a Palin or a Paul or a Pawlenty talk about dismantling the Federal control of money, or return to the gold standard, or dismantling our social-welfare system (whatever remains of it) think of unibrowed invaders, in Palin's case from the untamed north.
These are people who don't understand art, beauty, improvement and liberal ideas like helping your neighbor. They are -oths.
