It's 198 BC in my campaign (first 'long' one ive played), I am playing Brutii and I have about 25 provinces...

For some reason the Senate doesn't like me very much even though I've been completing their requests. My rating with the plebs is 6, which is higher than the other guys, but my Senate rating is 3, much lower than Scippi and Julii. Julii has craploads of provinces so I'd hate to risk war with them, but
am I 'supposed' to attack the Senate now or will they attack me once they are angry enough?

What should my general strategy be here? (Also, I don't understand why letting my own people revolt and then exterminating them HELPS the profitability of the settlement greatly with no apparent side effects)