There Once Was A Great Nation With An Unstable Leader
by Nicholas Kristof
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/26/opinion/sunday/caligula-roman-empire.html?mcubz=1
The new leader was colorful and flamboyant, offering plenty of opportunities for ribald gossip.
He made popular promises of tax reform and grandiose pledges of infrastructure projects.
He had a thing for generals.
Alas, he had no government experience and proved utterly incompetent at actually getting things done.
He was a narcissist and a megalomaniac, becoming increasingly unhinged and showing desperate, cruel and tyrannical behavior.
He scandalized the public, and had a penchant for blurting out whatever was on his mind.
The Senate, dignified and traditional, watched him with increasing alarm.
He aggravated tensions by scathingly denouncing the Senate, relying on sarcasm and insult, and showing utter contempt for it.
Soon he inspired resistance. He had offended practically everyone, couldn't deliver on his promises, his mental stability was doubted, and he simply had no idea how to govern.
Sound familiar?
And yet Rome survived Caligula.
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