A Lesson in Taxation, Section 5: Tax Law and Romans
Now that we are getting away from the Greeks, we now are at the Roman Empire. Scholars often speak of Roman taxation as “more or less organized stealing” and Roman tax men as “a band of thugs.” However, Roman tax law wasn’t always corrupt. There was a two hundred year period at the peak of the Roman Empire when taxes were modest. Actually, every kind of tax, as well as no taxes, marked the Roman period. Taxation was as necessary but as unpredictable in the Roman Empire as were the legions, the Senate and the Caesars. The arguably insane emperor Nero once offered to abolish every indirect tax and make an “amazing present to the human race.” If you’re feeling the pressure with today’s taxes, call a Tax Preparer in Raleigh, NC for all your tax-related needs!
Romans – The Early Years
The early Roman Republic did not require much taxation because it operated with free labor. The military, which is arguably the greatest expense in any society, was a citizen’s military, comprised of land-owners who served for 1 year without pay. They even provided their own uniforms and equipment. This spirit of volunteer free public service inspired most government offices. Even the judges worked for the city for free. It is hard to understand the importance of this ancient practice, especially in our age, where nobody seems willing to lift a finger for the government without a fat paycheck. Go here if you want help with modern-day Tax Preparation in Cary, NC.
The ideal method in reducing heavy taxation is to instil in all citizens a spirit of selfless service for the public good. It is not needed to curtail public programs and services; what is needed is the curtailment of the spirit of gain and profit that infects public servants and contractors.
The Romans, similar to many ancient civilizations, used the important people of their civilization to deal with tax law. Taxpayers loved and admired these men, and no doubt the integrity of these great men rubbed off on the taxpayers. By contrast, modern tax systems use professional public relations contractors to manipulate taxpayers with advertising campaigns that utilize fear more than integrity. Trouble started, however, when Roman armies lived off of the people and took tribute in block form called “stipendium”.
Keep an eye out for W. Marc Gilfillan’s next chapter in his History of Taxes series: Taxes and the American Revolution.
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