Augustus: Precursor To Classical Liberalism

It's become an accepted notion that taxes are a means to an end in building and maintaining civilization.

It's not and never will be.

As I discussed briefly, the Greeks showed how to collect taxes in a fair and just manner efficiently without a bureaucracy. It is true, taxes are/were collected to maintain and build infrastructure for the common good but the wise government or leader will not put this ahead of an angry taxpayer base.

Civilization is built when taxes are low and just.

Repeat, rinse and wash.

Low enough to make those who call for higher taxes cringe.

What about Rome?

Rome, in large part, absorbed enlightened Greek idea on matters of taxation - especially during the Republic when genius-minds like Cicero roamed. Later, as it graduated to Empire, it wavered a little with typical abuse being a part of the process but because of the Greek influence, the Romans were keen on stamping out tax collectors who abused their power because it fostered too much angst leading to rebellion in the provinces.

And they were good at it. Too bad we haven't continued this honorable legacy.

Alas, Augustus (who my Classic teacher asserted was the greatest Roman and possibly one of mankind's greatest figures) brought upon a peace that Gibbon called 'the greatest period in human history.' It was Pax Romana.

Yes, there were some problems - notably in Britain - but as a whole the empire was safe, clean and prosperous under Augustus.

How did he do it?

Best way to examine this is look at what the mediocre-Emperors who followed and how they ruled. Basically, ruthlessly, with force by nationalizing everything and expanding oppressive taxation to pay for a crumbling empire.

Augustus, though a tyrant in a classical sense, was the epitome of Aristotle's belief that an enlightened and being monarchy was the best form of government.

Auggie, for all intents and purposes, ruled Rome like a classical liberal.

People who compare Washington to Rome do so without a thought as to how Rome functioned. Rome wasn't a monolithic, homogeneous, oppressive empire. That's for the movies. It often found ways to accommodate newly acquired lands.

Modern Washington - and Europe - and how it functions is closer aligned to the later Emperors and not the tradition of Classical Greece and Republican Rome.

It seeks new ways to tax because it can't fund itself and it does not care the detriment it will cause because it is addicted to 'revenue' streams produced by free people.