All Republics eventually turn against their citizens when they begin to see their power slipping away through their fingers. Today in Europe, free speech has vanished. In the US, you see “See Something, Say Something.” Looking at history, we see this same pattern. Perhaps the most famous example was the Venetian Republic, which eventually destroyed its own power.
The practice of encouraging citizens to report others was instituted by Maximinus I (236-248AD) who tore Rome apart declaring all wealth belonged to the state and paid rewards to people who reported others. Once he turned everyone against each other, there was no going back. The economy began to implode as trust and unity evaporated. The wealthy began to hoard their wealth instead of investing and lending it out. Capitalism requires wealth disparity for then the wealthy put their money to use in venture type arrangements that even took place in ancient Athens, which was the birth of insurance underwriting voyages for trade. Maximinus I destroyed that unity and venture capital virtually ceased to exist after him.
Hellbound and Down 