Recently I’ve been reflecting on the maligned concept of “government intervention” and its purported negative impacts on our quality of life. After careful consideration, I’ve come to the conclusion that the benefits of “spontaneous order” often exceed those of centralized regulation. To start, some historical examples may help bring this into focus. Returning to the heyday of ancient Rome, the civic development of aqueducts and the Cloaca Maxima speak to this larger point.