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Reports of his tax policies suggest that Shah Jahan may have appropriated as much as 40 per cent of what we now call gross domestic product to support a lifestyle of exceptional ostentation and self-indulgence. He was overthrown by his son, who was exasperated by his father’s penchant for monumental building, anxious to maximise his own share of the loot and concerned by the scale of the levies on the population. But it was all too late. The Mogul empire was in irretrievable decline.
The great pyramids are impressive examples of “Wasted Heroism”. Resources wasted on a grand scale, making no sense given hindsight.
There are plenty of examples of “Wasted Heroism” in modern times. What will future generations think about forests of wind turbines and countless acres of solar panels? Will they rejoice that we saved the planet? Or will they compare us to the builders of pyramids or seekers of the “Holy Grail”?
You might want to read Christopher Dunn’s book ‘Giza Power Plant’. He’s a material engineer so he wrote the book from engineering point of view. He tried to ‘reverse engineering’ the design of the pyramid esp inside. Why would anyone build these with such precise that modern builders do not even match these days? The pyramid has granite objects inside that were cut and dressed with such flatness that you’d need specialized machining tools to do that these days. How did they do that back then?
I (never) built towers using blocks in kindergarten.
To be politically correct, obamaspeak requires we that negate everything we have ever done or constructed.
Oboogeyman projects an aura of darkness that chills my soul to the inner core.
I’m going to go throw up now.
Appropriate monuments to central planning. When do we start on Obama’s?
Already done. There’s one on the back of every dollar you’ll be giving him.
Certainly applies to Ramses II
http://www.johnkay.com/2012/11/21/the-monumental-folly-of-rent-seeking#.UK4XsC0H3UI.facebook
Reports of his tax policies suggest that Shah Jahan may have appropriated as much as 40 per cent of what we now call gross domestic product to support a lifestyle of exceptional ostentation and self-indulgence. He was overthrown by his son, who was exasperated by his father’s penchant for monumental building, anxious to maximise his own share of the loot and concerned by the scale of the levies on the population. But it was all too late. The Mogul empire was in irretrievable decline.
Don’t worry – the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists have vowed to tear down the Pyramids anyway.
“Obama Democracy” brings this kind of enlightened “progress”.
Forward, comrades!
The great pyramids are impressive examples of “Wasted Heroism”. Resources wasted on a grand scale, making no sense given hindsight.
There are plenty of examples of “Wasted Heroism” in modern times. What will future generations think about forests of wind turbines and countless acres of solar panels? Will they rejoice that we saved the planet? Or will they compare us to the builders of pyramids or seekers of the “Holy Grail”?
You might want to read Christopher Dunn’s book ‘Giza Power Plant’. He’s a material engineer so he wrote the book from engineering point of view. He tried to ‘reverse engineering’ the design of the pyramid esp inside. Why would anyone build these with such precise that modern builders do not even match these days? The pyramid has granite objects inside that were cut and dressed with such flatness that you’d need specialized machining tools to do that these days. How did they do that back then?