We’ve seen this corruption and incompetence prior to
“Three excellent forces rule the globe: stupidness, worry, and greed.”– Albert Einstein.
The reign of an egotistical fool of a King, Di Xin, brought about the final, bloody end of the fantastic Shang Empire in China.
It was a nation with a long background of accountable administration, the envy of the world, however it fell into fast decline under a leader who fell short to lead.
Professional officials and advisors were replaced with unqualified, incompetent, loyalist appointees.
Power was streamlined and came to be progressively outright, up until just a couple of corrupt cronies might make policy decisions.
Unpredictable arrests and imprisonments instilled anxiety as a prevailing standard.
The worry of taxes was increasingly changed to the poverty-stricken, broadening the monetary gorge in between the rich and the inadequate.
The treasury was drained pipes to supply a luxurious way of life for the corrupt leader, his family members, and venal officials.
Wise teachers were damned, and learning was disparaged. Institutes of innovative discovering were attacked.
Terminates, floodings, and massive tornados damaged the land, heightening the difficulty encountered by normal individuals.
A loss of faith in the management brought about progressively a lot more protests and physical violence.
All of this defines the Shang Dynasty just before its loss in China in 1046 BCE. It also closely foreshadows the current Trump Administration.
The Shang Dynasty had actually existed for virtually 500 years, from concerning 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE. Ruled by 31 kings throughout 17 generations, the dynasty was noted for the growth of Chinese writing, innovative calendar systems, astronomy, and bronze metallurgy strategies.
It all came crashing down when Di Xin rose to the throne and started his reign of self-absorbed, luxurious leadership. In a couple of years, the people had actually had sufficient, and a bloody revolt brought an end to the lengthiest dynasty in China’s background.
In the Chinese Taoist cosmology, deep space runs in cycles. Winter season comes to be Spring, Night comes to be Day, and individuals are birthed and pass away.
Worldwide history also runs in cycles, and tells us that federal governments, whether democratic or despotic, come and go, as do the leaders, whether they be presidents or totalitarians.
In my opinion, we’re enduring a risky cycle in American history, mirroring the last years and fall of the Shang Empire. Our system of government, for the previous 250 years, has actually been based on a solid Constitution and the principle of the rule of legislation. However, today, it’s challenged by Einstein’s three terrific pressures of the globe: stupidity, greed, and worry.
The people living under the decreasing Shang empire really did not have a means to transform their corrupt management without violence, however we do. Every two years, we can get rid of inexperienced agents, and every four years, we can vote out various other venal leaders.
All it takes is a stired up citizenry, devoid of passiveness, using the power of the tally. As long as we have the power of the ballot, a right that is even now being tested, we can quit the downward slide of democracy that we’re currently experiencing. It’s a far much better approach of fixing the wrongs of a corrupt and inexperienced management than bloody rebellions and civil battle.
References:
1 Wen, Benebell, I Ching, the Oracle, 2023, club. North Atlantic Books, The Golden State, USA
2 Marcellius, Caius, The Fluctuate of the Shang Dynasty, Ancient Background Hub, https://ancienthistoryhub.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-shang-dynasty-an-overview-of-ancient-chinas-first-recorded-royal-dynasty/
Accessed 8/ 18/ 2025