Your analogy falls extremely flat though in method. The Gracchi used every political tool in the book, legal and illegal, to push Rome further away from its founding principles, and toward the decades of civil wars that came later.
Their entire power-grab began by giving up their expected political roles as Patricians, so they could turn the Tribunate into an offensive weapon. The Tribunes were supposed to protect the plebeians from the Patricians, not start class wars. If anything, the Gracchi are perfect renditions of modern day Democrats. They were elected to offices they weren’t eligible. They used those offices to sow division. They greatly expanded the power of those offices beyond what had been historically accepted. They wanted to re-distribute wealth, make citizens of non-Romans, and ignore term limits.
Trump, on the other hand, is trying to restore America’s founding principles. Moreover, he wasn’t willing to take the quasi-legal next steps that many in this community wanted him to take.
The Gracchi pushed the “legal” envelope for political power. Caesar pushed the “legal” envelope for self-preservation. And Trump backed down when it came time to make that choice.
At least that’s how I see it.
It was about States Rights, and what power a State had in the Union. However, the right they were protecting was Slavery. You have to remember there were decades of compromises on the slavery issue before the Civil War broke out.
Three-Fifths compromise and Missouri compromise for example.
- Did he fill out his Travel Form? -- Doubt it
- Did he self-quarantine for 10 days before travel? -- Obviously no
- Did he test negative within 3 days prior to travel? -- Maybe
- Does he meet any of the exemption criteria? -- No
Maybe he got roughed up by the Mass State police in lieu of paying the 500 per day fines.
The Tarrant County order, no matter how much I despise it, doesn't "compel business to fine citizens in their buildings $1,000 if they aren't wearing a mask." Not only is this text not in the order, it doesn't make any sense on its face. How would a business fine a customer? How would they go about collecting said fine? It doesn't make any sense. What is this site you're linking to? Here is the order: http://www.tarrantcounty.com/content/dam/main/global/Covid-19/County-Judge-B.%20Glen-Whitley-Executive-Order-2-23-21.pdf
sort of like this:
This is obviously just a thought experiment, but no one said he wasn’t white due to his speech or thoughts. Minority groups are routinely told they are not legitimate members of their groups unless they hold certain beliefs or behave in certain ways.
Example: the black beauty pageant winner today.
Oh My Gosh....really?