I don’t understand why the Roman plebeians get such flack for “being bought with bread and circuses.” Think of how much Americans have been willing to give up to the government / the one percent without any expectation of the promotion of the general welfare.

The plebes managed to get a guaranteed wage and days off of work. Some Americans not only refuse to demand those things, but argue against them because it would go against the American principles of individualism and rugged determinism.

The plebes organized general strikes on multiple occasions - leaving Rome at a standstill until their demands were met. Some Americans think that unionization is bad for workers.

How are we worse at class solidarity and quite honestly at understanding and acting in our own interests than people who lived over 2000 years ago? What have we been doing all this time?

I’m not trying to glorify Roman culture. It was absolutely horrible in so many ways - gender inequality, widespread slavery, and even genocide in the name of colonization. This thread comes with so many caveats that I probably shouldn’t have even bothered with it. But geez, man.