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From: mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)
Newsgroups: news.misc,misc.legal
Subject: Re: The Cincinnatus Society of Pinheads
Message-ID: <827@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Date: 21 Oct 88 19:21:53 GMT
References: <15638@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <10206@cup.portal.com>
Reply-To: mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)
Organization: NCR Comten, Inc.
Lines: 20

In article <10206@cup.portal.com> Paktor@cup.portal.com (David L Paktor) writes:
>
>Now, my knowledge of history is *real* vague on this one, but, wasn't
>    Cincinnatus some sort of heavy-handed autocrat with delusions of
>    elitism and superiority, sometime in ancient Rome?
>
Cincinnattus was a model of Roman virtue and humility.  In the republic,
the excutive was split between two consuls.  However,  in time of war,
a single executive with !temporary! extraordinary powers could be
appointed,  called the dictator (unlike current holders of the term,
they were historically virtuous men).

Cincinnatus was appointed dictator.  After winning his war,  the people
were so pleased with his rule that they insisted he remain.  Instead,
the humble Cincinnatus asked only a small boon from the people,  as much
land to farm as he could plow around in a single day.  Far from an
elitist,  I would say.

Dan Mercer
NCR Comten