I think you have completely missed Cicero’s point. Cicero was condemning the over indulgence of the Piscinarii, particularly in a Rome whose attitudes to luxury had changed after the Verrines. To quote De Officiis: “And if we will only bear in mind the superiority and dignity of our nature, we shall realise how wrong it is to abandon ourselves to excess and to live in luxury and voluptuousness, and how right it is to live in thrift, self-denial, simplicity, and sobriety.” Cicero was not just talking about these men to condemn their detachment from governance. More importantly though, I think you misunderstand the nature of the Republic and that to apply it to contemporary America makes no sense. It was an aristocracy, run by a small band of senatorial elite, so any sense of duty comes from that, and not their wealth. Maybe you haven’t misunderstood, and you are advocating a plutocratic governance of the United States, because in my mind the only people with a duty to serve are those who were democratically elected.
I was impressed enough reading this elegy on "Boomers' lost citizenship spirit" to look up Cicero Institute's website. And, got an impression of yet another think thank (to its credit NOT based in DC) - with thoughtful articles by Joe - that I mostly agree with - but not exactly inviting (never mind - facilitating) folks like me to actually get involved in some form of practical (here & now) action to follow up on Joe's persuasive appeal.
I was unaware of you until today, but thanks to Real Clear Politics, I will be keeping a very close eye on you. The path to a brighter future can only be found in the wisdom of the past.
I know I'm nitpicking on something completely tangential to the excellent point of your article. But, technically, both Hortensius and Lucullus, while inarguably aristocratic, were plebs, not patricians.
Joe, I love your spirit and love of liberty. I will quibble a bit on your use of the word "duty," which conveys a tinge of drudging self-sacrifice. But, as you also state, active citizenship is in everyone's self-interest. We can all be happy warriors as we engage in our governance, promoting the civil society that benefits all.
Thank you for leading by example. The only way is forward. Can we avoid the fate of empires? https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/how-to-repeat-history-part-3
I think you have completely missed Cicero’s point. Cicero was condemning the over indulgence of the Piscinarii, particularly in a Rome whose attitudes to luxury had changed after the Verrines. To quote De Officiis: “And if we will only bear in mind the superiority and dignity of our nature, we shall realise how wrong it is to abandon ourselves to excess and to live in luxury and voluptuousness, and how right it is to live in thrift, self-denial, simplicity, and sobriety.” Cicero was not just talking about these men to condemn their detachment from governance. More importantly though, I think you misunderstand the nature of the Republic and that to apply it to contemporary America makes no sense. It was an aristocracy, run by a small band of senatorial elite, so any sense of duty comes from that, and not their wealth. Maybe you haven’t misunderstood, and you are advocating a plutocratic governance of the United States, because in my mind the only people with a duty to serve are those who were democratically elected.
I was impressed enough reading this elegy on "Boomers' lost citizenship spirit" to look up Cicero Institute's website. And, got an impression of yet another think thank (to its credit NOT based in DC) - with thoughtful articles by Joe - that I mostly agree with - but not exactly inviting (never mind - facilitating) folks like me to actually get involved in some form of practical (here & now) action to follow up on Joe's persuasive appeal.
I was unaware of you until today, but thanks to Real Clear Politics, I will be keeping a very close eye on you. The path to a brighter future can only be found in the wisdom of the past.
I know I'm nitpicking on something completely tangential to the excellent point of your article. But, technically, both Hortensius and Lucullus, while inarguably aristocratic, were plebs, not patricians.
Joe, I love your spirit and love of liberty. I will quibble a bit on your use of the word "duty," which conveys a tinge of drudging self-sacrifice. But, as you also state, active citizenship is in everyone's self-interest. We can all be happy warriors as we engage in our governance, promoting the civil society that benefits all.
As I recall my motto, roughly in Latin:
Este pisces mangus in piscina parvina.