You make a very interesting point in Sharpe’s Tiger, one that most politicians completely ignore, or overlook; ‘without trade, Private Sharpe, we’d be…we always DESPISE merchants…’
I think this one paragraph should be required reading for all new politicians, unless, which most do not, they have previously had to make a payroll, or a profit.
Have read the Last Kingdom series, now working through Sharpe’s.
All the best,
Josef