The attack on the principles of the Rule of Law was part of the general movement away from liberalism which began about 1870. It came almost entirely from the intellectual leaders of the socialist movement.
The history of poverty is almost the history of mankind. The ancient writers have left us few specific accounts of it because they took it for granted. It was the normal lot.
Most everyone dislikes being taxed to pay for government. So governments turn to borrowing and printing money. But those methods aren't really any less costly than taxation.
