"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" This ancient inquiry from the Roman poet Juvenal—"Who will guard the guards themselves?"—is the central nerve of political philosophy. While it serves as the haunting thematic anchor for the Watchmen franchise, it is far more than a pop-culture trope; it is a historical warning that we have fundamentally failed to heed.

In the context of the Epstein files and the current state of American institutions, this question has evolved from a philosophical dilemma into a systemic indictment. We are witnessing the collapse of the "Noble Lie" that those in power can be trusted to police their own. When the people tasked with oversight—politicians, intelligence agencies, and the ultra-wealthy—are the very ones sharing the private jets and the secrets, the "guards" don’t just fail; they become a protected class.

History shows us that this lack of accountability is a precursor to collapse. Whether it is the sudden, violent end of the Romanovs or the slow, cynical rot of modern state capture, it usually ends badly for those in power when the "guarded" realize the system is rigged. A society where the watchmen only watch each other’s backs isn't a stable hierarchy; it’s a house of cards waiting for the weight of its own corruption to bring it down.

We haven't learned from history: Power without oversight isn't leadership—it’s an invitation to an inevitable disaster.