Legendarily, one of the functions of bureaucracy envisioned by Confucius was to mitigate the harm which could be done by a wicked ruler. I imagine it might have gone like this:
RULER: I need more wealth to recover from my foolhardy adventures and to sate my beastly appetites!
BUREAUCRAT: Yes, my lord. We can assess a new tax.
RULER: No time for that. Let us find a group of people who have wealth in the city, kill them and take it!
BUREAUCRAT: We shall find them all and determine their wealth at once, lord. The better to enrich you, of course.
Sometime later, a bureaucrat knocks on the door of a local Sogdian.
SOGDIAN: Yes?
BUREAUCRAT: By order of the governor, we are conducting a census of the city. Only of Sogdians. We also require a list of your possessions, and a description of how easy they would be to transport to the governor’s palace.
SOGDIAN: I....see. But where are my manners! You, an official of the court, and me with my home a shambles! I am shamed to be seen in such a sorry state. You must return tomorrow and my family and I will host you a dinner befitting your status!
BUREAUCRAT: But of course—it does you credit to recognize the dignity of an official of the governor. I will return tomorrow.
The Sogdians all exit, stage left.
BUREAUCRAT: [Returns] I see the home is empty, as are many others.
Sometime later, at the governor’s palace.
BUREAUCRAT: My lord, we have conducted a census of the Sogdians and their wealth, and found there are none in the city.
Thanks, but I meant actual, real-world examples, of each of the claims / points / sections—not, like, fictional / imagined ones. (Preferably, multiple examples per point / claim / section.)
Fair request—I have a few examples for consideration, which would probably be better to break out into individual comments attached to your parent to focus discussion.
Legendarily, one of the functions of bureaucracy envisioned by Confucius was to mitigate the harm which could be done by a wicked ruler. I imagine it might have gone like this:
RULER: I need more wealth to recover from my foolhardy adventures and to sate my beastly appetites!
BUREAUCRAT: Yes, my lord. We can assess a new tax.
RULER: No time for that. Let us find a group of people who have wealth in the city, kill them and take it!
BUREAUCRAT: But what group shall it be, lord?
RULER: The Sogdians are wealthy. Let it be them!
BUREAUCRAT: We shall find them all and determine their wealth at once, lord. The better to enrich you, of course.
Sometime later, a bureaucrat knocks on the door of a local Sogdian.
SOGDIAN: Yes?
BUREAUCRAT: By order of the governor, we are conducting a census of the city. Only of Sogdians. We also require a list of your possessions, and a description of how easy they would be to transport to the governor’s palace.
SOGDIAN: I....see. But where are my manners! You, an official of the court, and me with my home a shambles! I am shamed to be seen in such a sorry state. You must return tomorrow and my family and I will host you a dinner befitting your status!
BUREAUCRAT: But of course—it does you credit to recognize the dignity of an official of the governor. I will return tomorrow.
The Sogdians all exit, stage left.
BUREAUCRAT: [Returns] I see the home is empty, as are many others.
Sometime later, at the governor’s palace.
BUREAUCRAT: My lord, we have conducted a census of the Sogdians and their wealth, and found there are none in the city.
RULER: No time for that, you fool! There is a rebellion in the north, and mysteriously also a rebellion in the west!
BUREAUCRAT: Of course, my lord. We will turn our attention to this new matter at once.
Thanks, but I meant actual, real-world examples, of each of the claims / points / sections—not, like, fictional / imagined ones. (Preferably, multiple examples per point / claim / section.)
Fair request—I have a few examples for consideration, which would probably be better to break out into individual comments attached to your parent to focus discussion.