ClippingKK

惜政治舆论向来就不讲究逻辑，而是看哪边

and the true measure of pluralism is precisely its ability to resist such attempts. Pluralism also enshrines the notion of the rule of law, the principle that laws should be applied equally to everybody—something that is naturally impossible under an absolutist monarchy. But the rule of law, in turn, implies that laws cannot simply be used by one group to encroach upon the rights of another. What’s more, the principle of the rule of law opens the door for greater participation in the political process and greater inclusivity, as it powerfully introduces the idea that people should be equal not only before the law but also in the political system.

这样的现象在历史记载中是常态，尤其是在中原王朝与周边文明程度较低的民族或政权的战争中，后者在很长时间内完全没有自己的历史记录体系，更谈不上话语权了。于是我们经常会读到中原王朝的军队总是十战九胜，尤其是各类接触战，往往百战百胜。但是随后却总是在关键时刻，因为主帅突然莫名其妙犯了大错，或者皇帝介入胡乱指挥，于是会在一次大战中惨败，随后便只好又重新来过，继续在新一轮的对决中连战连胜

蕃对帝国西北威胁这么大，皇帝想要对吐蕃用兵，张说就不断要求与吐蕃讲和。等到前线战事不利，张说干脆上表讽刺皇帝。显然，以张说为代表的贤相集团的思路很简单，不折腾就不会缺钱了。这些“忠臣”们的说辞并非毫无道理，可是从皇帝的角度来讲，这些本该纳入国库的钱进了谁的腰包呢？难道都给老百姓得到实惠了吗？实际上这些户口和土地都由各级豪强地主们掌控，他们蛀虫一般吞噬着民间的财富，帝国不仅要听之任之，还要为了保护他们的利益任边疆局势糜烂，皇帝又怎么能咽下这口气呢

可惜政治舆论向来就不讲究逻辑，而是看哪边发声的人更多，声音更响亮。大家之所以攻击杨国忠，不过是因为不敢明目张胆直接攻击皇帝，于是选择借攻击皇帝的代理人，来隐晦表达对皇帝一手布置的当前政治格局的强烈不满

把自己治理下的关东地区人民视为假想敌的隋炀帝最终玩火自焚，在遍地反隋起义的打击下滞留南方的江都，讽刺地死于自己最信任的关中人组成的近卫军之手

the ability of those who dominate extractive institutions to benefit greatly at the expense of the rest of society implies that political power under extractive institutions is highly coveted, making many groups and individuals fight to obtain it. As a consequence, there will be powerful forces pushing societies under extractive institutions toward political instability. The synergies between extractive economic and political institutions create a vicious circle, where extractive institutions, once in place, tend to persist. Similarly, there is a virtuous circle associated with inclusive economic and political institutions. But neither the vicious nor the virtuous circle is absolute. In fact, some nations live under inclusive institutions today because, though extractive institutions have been the norm in history, some societies have been able to break the mold and transition toward inclusive institutions.

the ability of those who dominate extractive institutions to benefit greatly at the expense of the rest of society implies that political power under extractive institutions is highly coveted, making many groups and individuals fight to obtain it. As a consequence, there will be powerful forces pushing societies under extractive institutions toward political instability.