The Ides of March

I can't believe I let the 15th of March slip by without a little tribute to Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was murdered by the Senate on the 15th of March in 44 BC so that he would not attain to the status of king or empoeror in the Roman State. This murder set off a chain of events that led directly to that very thing taking place. Octavius Caesar, Julius' adopted grand-nephew was made the sole ruler of the Roman world in 27 BC. Why did Julius Caesar die?
The whole saga has been so immortalized by Shakespeare that we can hardly think of the death without dear Brutus and Caesar's dying words "Et tu, Brute." Yet in all liklihood this phrase was never uttered (that's OK though, Washington never cut down a cherry tree either). The sentiment is the same. Caesar died because of what others were afraid of. Caesar was simply about twenty years ahead of his time. He was unable to grasp what his grand-nephew took hold of and weilded with expert skill, the people of Rome. Caesar thought he could man-handle the people. Augustus knew they had to be worked like clay. Caesar thought he could do whatever he wanted to and with the Senate. Augustus knew he had to make them think they needed him. In the end, Caesar died because he wanted too much, too fast.
Augustus was successful because he handled the situation with far more prudence and care.
We are all political playthings, at least it feels that way. As long as the leaders give us rebate stimulus packages, we won't revolt. Actually we would eb unlikely to revolt even if they didn't give us stimulus packages. We are way too lazy for anything as difficult and trying as a revolt.