Quote Originally Posted by Weebeast View Post
Lets all blame Marius! SPQR could've just not enrolled jobless, non-property owners. We either put 'em on welfare or let them become criminals, built prisons, put them in there and fed them. Government would have lost money either way and would have been hated by the people. Oops I think I just described USA there.

Sorry to be blunt but any civilization, some form of government will deteriorate if greed and selfishness aren't checked. Optimates and Populares were both greedy and selfish. We are still having the same problem Romans were having despite we renamed republic to democracy. Perhaps I'm to 'big-pictury' so I'll excuse myself before I get worse and let you do your thing.
Vast oversimplification. You cannot simply draw lines directly between now and 2000 years ago, pal. No matter how much political rhetoric in your country likes it that way.