Similarities Between Ancient Rome and the US

Today we live in a world that has multiple problems. I agree we live in a wonderful country were we are free, however, there are issues we are facing. After reading book three in Juvenile’s Satire, I see the shocking similarities between the US and ancient Rome. As connected with my prior post, here are the issues we are facing today that can be related back to ancient Rome.

1. Tax reform – Romans had a tax rate that would climb up to 3%. However, this was due to everything they own. It appeared they were not just taxed on income, but they were taxed on property, slaves, personal property, etc. As Americans do pay taxes assessed on the value of our property on a monthly basis. We only have to pay taxes on our personal property (sales tax) once, and that is when we purchase it. However, it appeared the Romans would continually pay yearly taxes on their personal property.  When Rome conquered a city they would force those cities to pay taxes to the state of Rome. As Americans we tax on income earned in the US. However, Romans taxed everyone that was under Roman rule. Because their tax laws played a part in the demise of the Roman Empire, it is important to notice that taxes are what fuels a country. While we are collected a lot more of a percentage than the Romans, we still might not be collected in the best manor.

2. Gap between rich and poor – The Romans had a large gap between the poor and the rich. According to the Roman’s, it was all about how fancy of clothes one wore, or how much property your neighbor has. What was terrible about the Roman society was if you do not live such a lavish life, you were considered scum of the earth. In Juvenile’s Satire book 3, line 144 it states: “A man's word is believed in exact proportion to the amount of cash which he keeps in his strong-box.” That is all that mattered according to the Romans. Your word is believed only to the amount of money you had, so the wealthier one is the more power one had.

3. Wage issues – Never in Juvenile’s Satire does it tell the Roman’s salaries, or to how much they were getting paid. However, on line 164, you could tell that there was enough wage discrepancy to cause such a separation from two different classes: rich and poor. It states:

“It is no easy matter, anywhere, for a man to rise when poverty stands in the way of his merits: but nowhere is the effort harder than in Rome, where you must pay a big rent for a wretched lodging, a big sum to fill the bellies of your slaves, and buy a frugal dinner for yourself.”

It is not hard to tell how similar our society is today with in the days of Rome. There was such a high rent in Rome that the poor did not belong their. I just got back from living in New York City. I found while living there that years ago Harlem was a place where the poor could afford and be part of our society. However, slowly through time the cost of living started to rise. Now the rent and cost to live in the city has risen so significantly, the poor are being pushed out, not letting them be part of our society.

4. Education – In Rome education is only for the rich. On line 126 in Juvenile’s Satire it states:  “Here in Rome the son of free-born parents has to give the wall to some rich man's slave.” This shows that if you weren’t wealthy you spent your days as a slave to those who were wealthy. Granted in America, everyone is free; however, it is similar to those days of Rome because not everyone in America receives the equal right to education.

 5. Ethics/Moral/Religious decline – The whole third book of Juvenile’s Satire, moral and ethic decline seems to be the overarching issue. Umbricius states to his friend: "Since there is no room, for honest callings in this city, no reward for labour, Farewell my country.” (Speaking of Rome). The whole reason Umbricius left, was he felt he could not be an honest man and stay a successful person in the city of Rome. This is very similar to America, just getting back from an internship in New York City, I couldn’t tell you how many times other interns would be unethical, so they would get paid more. At a happy hour with my co-workers I was told my profession would suffer if I did not drink with them, even though I would go to the bars and socialize with them. Simply because I was not going to break my moral code I was told I was not going to as successful as them. This shows what type of society we live in, and that it is very similar to the Romans. I was being told that because of my morals I would fail in todays society, and just as Umbricius feels, I feel I cannot be an honest man and a successful business man at the same time.

Bibliography

"Taxes in the Roman Empire." Roman Taxes. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2015.

"Ancient History Sourcebook: Juvenal: Satire 3 (English)." Internet History Sourcebooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2015.