America and Ancient Rome

If, by chance, you are expecting a scholarly essay on Ancient Rome then you will be very disappointed.  There are, however, some  absolutes that can not be escaped and this little piece will touch on some of those.  Ancient Rome, also called the Roman Republic, lasted for about 480 years during which time many advances were made for the good of it's citizens and, actually, for all mankind.

The Roman Republic's metamorphosis into the Roman Empire is often debated but none of the scholars have questioned the fact that the degeneration of the Roman Republic was due to the 'executive' branch exceeding it's powers and undermining the Republic's constitution, albeit unwritten but understood by all.  There are differing schools of thought as to which head of state overstepped his bounds and what actions were taken, but none of them deny that the root cause was a power grab by one small group of politicians.

The Roman Republic (RR) , along with the Greeks, gave the world the idea of a nation that operated under the auspices of a constitution which outlined the branches of government, it's limits and responsibilities.

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt.  People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."  Cicero, 55bc

So, this means that for hundreds and hundreds of years the same human frailties have cursed the earth and it's inhabitants, and never a lesson learned!  Ahhh...what the scent of power will do to people.

The Romans gave us some of the most beautiful art and music, not to mention delicious culinary delights.

 Through the centuries artisans have created masterpieces for the sake of beauty and in some cases, for room and board with their patron.  Somehow that doesn't compute with today's demands for millions to be in a movie and how many living world-renowned sculptors can anyone name?

What music is being composed today that will still be recognized and performed even 200 years from now?

America has made enormous strides in the sciences during the 19th and 20th centuries when her citizens were given a free rein to imagine, dream, create.  Is the free rein being tightened and dreams being muffled?

Ideas ran rampant in the Roman Republic and started shutting in the decades following due to the huge central state power attempting to control the direction of ideas.  Nothing shuts down the imagine quicker than being told to stay within the lines. 

During the RR, as in the United States, the plebeian could work hard, use some innovation and dreams, and move up the social ladder, acquiring some knowledge and wealth along the way.  The RR was constantly being threatened by marauders, barbarians, rival nations, bands of nomadic immigrants.  The Roman military was known for being ruthless in the search for victory, but victorious it was.  The Latin language passed down from the Romans is the root of most of the European languages which passed on to South America, Australia, North America, parts of Africa and Asia.

The patricians of bygone Roman eras are present in every country of the world.  The citizens of each nation state in perpetuity today could probably name several ruling families that pull the strings of political, financial, social, religious organizations in their countries.  We have the Rockefellers, Kennedys, Roosevelts, Hearsts, Carnegies, Rothschild, etc., and adding newer ones with the like of Oprah Winfrey! 

Our nation is still young when set alongside the Roman Republic, but the comparison of rich accomplishments is fairly even.  Every civilization that has had a 'fluid' constitution has perished as a result of power machines usurping the roles of others.  The United States has the only Constitution that was organized and written to be timeless; not needing change or fluidity.  To revamp our Constitution is to revamp the very foundation of a way of life that will continue to grow and succeed if left untouched.  Can Americans actually "learn to work instead of living on public assistance"?  We will see soon...