Ancient Rome had less income inequality than modern America

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Archaeologists do the darndest things. One of which is pouring over papyri ledgers, imperial edicts and even Bible passages to determine the state of the Roman economy at its high point, around 150 C.E.

As Tim DeChant reports at Per Square Mile, “Schiedel and Friesen estimate that the top 1 percent of Roman society controlled 16 percent of the wealth, less than half of what America’s top 1 percent control.”

Comparable statistics for the U.S. are gathered by, of all places, the CIA, because income inequality is a pretty good predictor of revolution and social unrest. The CIA already knew that the US was a more unequal society than Oligarch-happy Russia, but it turns out we’re worse than the Romans, too. Tim sums it up:

Even the Roman Empire, a society built on conquest and slave labor, had a more equitable income distribution.

This implies that there’s something special about modern society. It’s possible, for example, that computers, automation and industrialization in general has allowed a level of concentration of wealth that would be impossible without it. It’s certainly allowed the American worker to become more productive than ever — but at the expense of his paycheck, apparently.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/ancient-rome-had-less-income-inequality-than-modern-america/11688

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The difference between Roman one percenters and slaves was infinite.

Alas. Math is not a liberals strong point.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

all we need to do then is feed some 1 percenters to the lions then!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

all we need to do then is feed some 1 percenters to the lions then!

Lets start with Wall St., bankers, CEO's and Congressmen/Senators and lobbyist. I'm down for that...and it could be televised. While were at it I would like to see it happen with the pro illegal alien crowd. Do that and this country would be that better off imo.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Slavery was central to the Roman economy, perhaps more so than any other ancient civilization One estimate of the slave population in the mid-2nd century when the Empire was at its peak was over 15 percent.

http://histclo.com/act/work/slave/anc/sa-rome.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yeah, those Cambridge University elitist professors don't know sh!t about ancient Roman history.

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7246320

[one...two...tree 2,762]

RWN's solution: reinstate slavery and we'll all be wealthy. Idiocy at its finest.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And the Soviet Union too! The Soviet Union had -0- unemployment also.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Slavery was central to the Roman economy, perhaps more so than any other ancient civilization One estimate of the slave population in the mid-2nd century when the Empire was at its peak was over 15 percent.

http://histclo.com/a...nc/sa-rome.html

Estimates for the prevalence of slavery in the Roman Empire vary. Some historians estimate that approximately 30% of the population of the Empire in the 1st century was enslaved.^[20] The Roman economy was certainly heavily dependent on slavery, but it was not (as is sometimes mistakenly stated) the most slave-dependent culture in history. That distinction probably belongs to the Spartans, with helots (the Spartan term for slave) outnumbering the Spartans by about seven to one (Herodotus; book IX, 10).

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I wouldn't pass on a couple of Roman slave girls.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

RWN's solution: reinstate slavery and we'll all be wealthy. Idiocy at its finest.

Illegal aliens made slaves obsolete. When it comes to humans, renting is cheaper than owning. Every racist knows that.

It also adds $$$ to business owners pockets making them richer, and displaces Americans in jobs making them poorer

Edited December 18, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Or continue using illegal aliens instead. When it comes to humans, renting is cheaper than owning.

Give them work visas. Problem solved.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Give them work visas. Problem solved.

Exactly, I have no problem with that. Of course, then they have to compete with legal Americans since it will no longer be possible to avoid payroll tax, workmans comp, minimum wage, etc.

The people that employed them did so because they were CHEAP, not because they are the world's greatest roofers or lawn mowers. They are cheap BECAUSE they are illegal. Once they become LEGAL they are no longer cheap.

So yeah, I agree. Let them apply for work permits, I have no porblem with work permits.

We also need to TAX the living ####### out of anyone that hires a person that is illegal, if they have a work permit, they are not illegal.

Edited December 18, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[Obama 2012 1,714]

RWN's solution: reinstate slavery and we'll all be wealthy. Idiocy at its finest.

important people would be wealthy.

There are leaders and there are followers in this society.

People who understand that are the leaders. People like you who post ####### from TPM, SmartPlanet, AddictingInfo, etc.. you all would be the slaves. I can see why you think this idea is stupid.

[Misha & Ira 113]

important people would be wealthy.

There are leaders and there are followers in this society.

People who understand that are the leaders. People like you who post ####### from TPM, SmartPlanet, AddictingInfo, etc.. you all would be the slaves. I can see why you think this idea is stupid.