**By Shamus Gerry III**
## A Modern Problem
Something is wrong in Washington. You can feel it.
It is a quiet problem. Not a loud one.
Government buildings are empty. Good people are leaving their jobs. The government is about to stop. This has happened before. It is an old story.
We see the news. We worry. The government is split. Workers are sad. The country is watching. Our leaders play games with our nation.
This is not just politics. It is a sign of a big problem. A problem that wrecked a great democracy long ago.
To see the real danger, we must look back in time. We must go back 2,400 years. To a city that was once the best in the world. A city called Athens.
## A Look Back in Time
Think of Athens in 404 BCE. The city lost a war. It was a 27-year war with Sparta.
The great empire of Athens was gone. The city was trapped. The people were hungry. Their democracy was dead.
The Pnyx Hill was a meeting spot. They talked and voted. Now, it was quiet. The democracy was gone.
A new group was in charge. It was a group of thirty men. Sparta chose them. They were called the Thirty Tyrants.
These men were from Athens. They were rich men. They hated the democracy. They blamed it for the war.
Their leader was Critias. He was smart and cruel. He learned from Socrates. He wanted Athens to be like Sparta. A city ruled by a few.
## The Same Story
America’s problems today look like old Athens’ problems. It is a scary thing.
Sparta made Athens change. Today, we see pressure from outside and fights inside. This attacks our democracy.
The Thirty Tyrants took power. They were cruel. They killed their enemies. They took their money. They made people afraid.
They broke the government. They put a cruel group in charge. They used a crisis for power. They silenced all who spoke out.
What about the people in the middle? A man named Theramenes backed the Thirty at first. He thought they would bring order. He was wrong.
He tried to stop their cruelty. They saw him as a threat. They killed him. This shows the middle is not safe in a crisis.
## The Old Pattern
Why does this happen? Because people are people.
The same things that wrecked Athens are here. Rich people who hate the people’s power. A strong leader is wanted in a crisis. And people trade freedom for safety.
The story of the Thirty Tyrants shows how a democracy dies. It does not die with a bang. It dies slowly. It dies when a country is too divided. It dies when our rules are used against us.
## The Old Warning
The Thirty Tyrants did not last. After eight months, heroes fought back. They were led by Thrasybulus. They hid in a fort. They fought and won. They brought back democracy.
But it was not a happy ending. Athens never got its power back. The city was poor. Its empire was gone. Its spirit was crushed. The best days of Athens were gone.
The city of democracy and art faded. A new power took over.
This is the warning from the past. It is not easy to bring back democracy. And the damage can last a long time. The crisis today is a test. A test of our democracy. A test that Athens failed.
## 5 Things You Can Do This Week
History is not just in books. It is happening now. Here are five things you can do this week.
1. **Control Your Money:** The Thirty Tyrants took money. You need to control your money. Learn to protect your money. Go to [SelfRelianceReport.com](https://selfreliancereport.com) to learn.
2. **Have Your Own Food:** If the government stops, food can be hard to get. You can grow your own. The [4ft Farm Blueprint](https://4ftfarmblueprint.com) shows you how. It is an easy way to get food for your family.
3. **Be Healthy:** A crisis is hard. You need to be healthy. Learn to make your body strong. Find out more at [FreedomHealthDaily.com](https://freedomhealthdaily.com).
4. **Know Your Neighbors:** In hard times, friends are your best help. Get to know people near you. Build a group to help each other. Learn more at [HomesteaderDepot.com](https://homesteaderdepot.com).
5. **Find the Truth:** The news has lies. You need to think for yourself. Find news you can trust. To see the world better, check out [SevenHolistics.com](https://sevenholistics.com).
—
### Sponsored by 4ft Farm Blueprint
**Tired of a food system that can break?** The 4ft Farm Blueprint is a new way to grow food. You can grow fresh food in a small space. It is easy. It is the best way to control your food. **[Click here to learn more!](https://4ftfarmblueprint.com)**
—
