Since the Roman Empire, the Ruling Few have adapted to changing times by recycling their classic models of oligarchy. They have moved on to the model which best maximizes their Private Good. We have only one model which lets us rule ourselves for our Common Good — the Democracy Circle. Still, we, too, can recycle. The Guardians of the Few will, of course, insist that this is impossible, and those ignorant of history may believe them. But if we want to do it and if we are persistent, we can recycle the Democracy Circle today just like the Ruling Few have always recycled their models (and are doing it again, now, by layering their global feudalism over their modern republics).

The Athenians can guide us even here. This is because they have left us numerical specifications for the construction of a Democracy Circle. Classical Athens is one of the high points of human civilization. Their creative genius extended beyond democracy to philosophy, science, sculpture,