Delvieron@aol.com wrote:
> Sparta,
>
> I found it a very interesting culture....but it's not very Extropian in
> inclination....just look at the Empire of Man that develops. Still, a good
> example of a society constructed to produce outstanding citizens.
>
> I'm actually quite fond of Jerry Pournelle's stories set in the CoDominion.
> Faulkenberg is a great character, as are most of his men.
>
Yes, by the time of King David's Spaceship, the Empire of Man has been through at least one Fall, and moves into a colonialist state, but I think that Sparta is a good example of an optimised constitutional republic (even though the head of state is a 'King' it is a position elected for life). The merit system for citizenship is an excellent means for maintaining a high standard of individual integrity.
-- TANSTAAFL!!! Michael Lorrey, President Lorrey Systems ------------------------------------------------------------ mailto:mike@lorrey.com ------------------------------------------------------------ "A society which trades freedom for some measure of security shall wind up with neither." -----Benjamin Franklin "The tree of Liberty should be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots." -----Thomas Jefferson "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a Free State, the Right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." -----US Constitution, 2nd Amendment "You can have my gun when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands..." -----Anonymous "Once we got their guns away from them, taking their money was REAL easy." -----Unknown North Korean Commissar