Since when has the fasces bookended the podium in the House chambers? 
The fasces were axes carried by Lictors, a caste within the Roman Empire that served as both body guard and executioner. On paper, Tribunes were elected from among the people to act as a check on laws passed by the patricians.
If memory serves, on paper, the Tribunes could veto any Roman law, and if they were interrupted, censored and prevented from executing their obligations to the people, the Lictors would execute whomever censored or interrupted them . . .
. . . no matter how much gold obstructionists owned, how many lands they held or how much power they wielded, but more often than not, the Tribunes were bribed and/or demagogued.
This is why Jean-Jacques Rousseau considered the premise of "representation" in the realms of state, society and government to be invalid.
The axes the patrician's bodyguards held were called, "fasces." This is the origin of the word, fascism.
These body guards, or Lictors, were always chosen from among the people to act as a barrier between the people and the rich since their only beneficent, but gruesome, function was hobbled by corrupt, so-called representatives.
@threadreaderapp unroll, please. Thank you!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
