[Destro]

But I have to admit I would sometimes prefer an Empire to what we have now, a half-ass socialist bureaucracy.

So you want a full assed socialist bureaucracy? Which is what empires need to thrive on.

[LibertarianInExile]

Not necessarily. The Mongols had a pretty simple 'bureaucratic' system: leave the current bureaucrats and rulers in place, demand a $#!#load of tribute.

Doesn't add anything, really, to the bureaucracy, except a layer of tribute. Which is just another tax.

Not that I want ANY bureaucracy in place, mind you.