Most Countries do not Do Much for Their People

This has been true for a long time. Countries benefited the Rich and Powerful in those countries. And that was considered normal.

The idea that they should benefit everyone in the country, was recent - and a product of the Enlightenment.

Every country, soon learned of this idea - and agreed with it, in theory. But in practice, not much changed.

And people who tried to take power away from the Rich and Powerful, soon felt their displeasure, in some unmistakable ways.