Is shame and legacy not related? Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth suggests they are.

And on emperors, we thankfully don't have that in most of the world anymore. I think the question is, 'what keeps the aristocracy in check' which you're right is partially pitchforks, but there used to be decorum and decency, even if it was pretend for a long time in things like politics and the media.

There's a reason the stockades are cruel and unusual punishment -- We are pressed maybe the most by our peers.

I smoked cigarettes for a long time and wanted to quit but never really could even try. When I moved somewhere where people my age thought it was gross and no one would go smoke with me, it was so incredibly easy -- for example.

If the upper class looked down on each other even a little bit for gutting the poor or the environment or mocking the republic, things would be different I think.