President Obama made a derogatory comment the other day about the amount of money some business people make, and it reminded me of some wisdom from the late T. Weller Smith. Weller was a local guy, and his business was selling big airplanes all over the world. He was an excellent student of ancient history, and especially of the Roman and Ottoman Empires. Weller once said comments from American liberals, saying business people make too much money, reminded him of the era in history when the highest paid, and most honored people were Court Jesters, Gladiators and Troubadours. Court Jesters were those who strutted about the halls of government spouting foolishness as wisdom. Gladiators were the elite athletes who fought to the death in the Coliseum. And Troubadours were entertainers who recited fiction to make crowds laugh or cry. Today's Court Jesters are our politicians and lawyers, Weller said. Today's Gladiators are our professional athletes. The Troubadours of our time are actors and musicians. The lesson for America comes especially from the Roman Empire as it spiraled downward from free food and the Circus. The lesson from history, he insisted, is that a country is going downhill when it degrades the value of those who create jobs and goods, and pays the greatest honor and money to Court Jesters, Gladiators and Troubadours. <br />
