tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post2076625066581504120..comments2024-03-29T09:09:24.834+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: Neayoruk And WalkeropolisKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-69524722098821626292016-09-14T15:24:27.903+01:002016-09-14T15:24:27.903+01:00I should have added to my previous note that one r...I should have added to my previous note that one reason I find William Walker so interesting is because here Stirling gives us an example of an intelligent, EFFICIENT tyrant. Walker was very different from the Lenins, Stalins, Hitlers, Maos, Pol Pots, etc., who were brutal AND so often inefficient, and stupidly wasteful and counterproductive in their policies.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-54046310347893114172016-09-14T14:56:19.624+01:002016-09-14T14:56:19.624+01:00Kaor, Paul!
I agree, William Walker could have ac...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />I agree, William Walker could have achieved most of what you listed above by less brutal means if he had been willing to be more patient and at least a LITTLE less ruthless.<br /><br />In fairness (gagging) to Walker, he actually said at one point in AGAINST THE TIDE OF YEARS he would have preferred to use salaried free workers (slavery being a costly, dangerous, high stress solution to labor problems). The problem Walker faced was that Achaean Greece simply had no tradition of people working regular hours at the same job day after day. Thus the use of slaves.<br /><br />Because Walker was aware of the dangers of slavery, he was careful to allow for MANUMISSION, for ex-slaves to enjoy the same civil status as all other free persons in the kingdom he was building. Not that Walker cared about the MORALITY involved, but he was trying to stabilize the realm he he created.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com