Part 3 in a series
By Katie Kieffer
Augustus. Vatican Museums, Rome. Image copyright Katie Kieffer. All rights reserved.
America can find hope and direction during recession by looking to Rome. Specifically, the U.S. would be wise to follow in the footsteps of the ‘Ronald Reagan of Rome.’
When you think of Rome, you probably think of Julius Caesar. But, in fact, Rome was not always governed by a dictator. Caesar was a politician and a military conqueror. He appointed himself dictator and thereby contributed to the end of Rome’s Republic and the beginning of a more imperial system that ultimately weakened Rome to the point of destruction.
So, Caesar was not necessarily the Roman leader our founding fathers looked to when they were modeling America’s democratic republic. Caesar’s adopted son and successor, Augustus, was who I’ll refer to as the “Ronald Reagan of Rome.”
Ronald Reagan. Image credit: Michael J. Deas.
Augustus, like Ronald Reagan, cut unnecessary government spending. He reigned in the food subsidy (which I discussed here) and kept it at a fixed number. He also lowered taxes and instituted the practice of direct taxation, which was much more fair.
Under Augustus’ reign, Romans suddenly had a huge incentive to produce and become involved in the free enterprise system and the economy flourished as a result.
Rather than hoarding revenue from taxes like other emperors, Augustus invested it back in the people of Rome. He repaired the roads and temples and built many new public baths, aqueducts and buildings. He also pulled Rome out Iran, which was a huge drain on the Roman Empire.
If Augustus’ successors had all upheld his policies, Rome may not have fallen. Unfortunately, most of the emperors who came after Augustus sought their own political power and satisfaction – choosing to raise taxes and expand the military to control the people rather than allowing the free enterprise system to flourish.
As Americans, we can choose to allow our politicians to spend and tax our country into perpetual recession, or we can demand accountability. We can ask our politicians to take a second look at the man who inspired our founding fathers, the ‘Ronald Reagan of Rome:’ Caesar Augustus.
Want more? You are invited to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.
Primary Sources:
HERITAGE LECTURES: The Lessons of the Roman Empire of America Today by J. Rufus Fears, PhD.
The Cato Journal: Vol. 14, Number 2, Fall 1994, “How Excessive Government Killed Ancient Rome,” by Bruce Bartlett.
