I’m just an amateur armchair historian that likes to read books. I love reading and learning about Roman history and I thoroughly enjoy being able to talk to others more knowledgeable than me about these things.

I always love seeing your comments!

The ‘Absolutely Barbaric’ guy is historically accurate though.

Oh, definitely!

I mean, you’re right about the rich getting richer being a problem (and the citizen/land problem, though only relevant in the Late Republic, not the Empire), but wars were a net drain on the Empire’s finances. A few men got very wealthy from them, but they were largely unessential to the Empire’s economy and tax base.

A lot of the problem was not only a declining tax base from increasing mismanagement and unchecked barbarian incursions in the 3rd century AD, but skyrocketing costs from the Emperor’s court, which slowly discarded the previous power-sharing arrangements with locals and Senatorial elites in exchange for a more monarchial system in which the Emperor controlled access to all the levers of power, funding unspeakable luxuries for the ‘majesty’ of the office, and a massive army of incredibly corrupt bureaucrats with very little actual power, who nonetheless made themselves indispensable by eliminating all alternative forms of running the Empire.

As someone who has an entirely liquid-based diet, I would love just some food restrictions.

Ah, damn, that’s some shit.

Unfortunately, it comes with some “don’t eat food” restrictions. I love buffalo chicken, but it has to be a rare and prepared for treat. 😞

Kind of. Both the Eastern and Western Empire maintained smaller forces of Comitataneses and Palatini/Scholae (Field armies and something akin to Guards formations) troops which were still full-time professionals. But the majority of troops in both by the 5th century AD were limitanei, border troops of the sort described. The Eastern Empire went through a number of different systems of varying professionalism in the next 1000 years it survived.

“So, since might makes right in your ideology, you’re going to admit that democracy and tolerance is the superior form of governance?”

“No, I’m actually just going to sulk here and spread Lost Cause style myths about how the Wehrmacht Wasn’t That Bad™”

Give the owners a pile of ‘tip’ money from you, to give to the workers as proper wages?

I think that last one might not be all that effective

Can’t trust myself with a gun. Gonna have to settle for a cripple with an aluminum baseball bat.

New York Rep Tom Suozzi and Massachusetts Rep Seth Moulton, both of whom have supported transgender rights in Congress in the past, expressed frustration at their party’s unwillingness to address an issue that was central to the Trump campaign’s messaging, particularly in its TV advertising.

Speaking to The New York Times on Wednesday, Suozzi said: “The Democrats have to stop pandering to the far left.

“I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports.

“Democrats aren’t saying that, and they should be.”

Moulton then spoke to the Times on Thursday and said: “Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face.

“I have two little girls, I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”

Cowardly pig-fuckers who’d turn on their trans fellow-citizens for political points.

Explanation: As Rome declined, so too did its fearsome military. From full-time, highly trained, well-equipped, well-paid professionals in self-sustaining units serving for set periods of time, to unpaid lifelong farmer-conscripts split into penny packets to be overrun and destroyed by invading barbarians. Legions, pls go back

Isn’t it? I’m glad I got a disease with cool symptoms and not just pooping myself to death, dysentery style. This way I at least have a cool story I can tell XD

The obviousness of it literally saved my life. Last time it happened I was still in college and living at home. Threw up in the bathroom, and weakly staggered to my room, thinking it was dark because I’d drank a cola just before. I was ready to lay there and fall asleep until I felt better.

My mother, luckily, was home, noticed that there was half-washed out black slurry in the toilet and sink, recognized it as blood, unlike me at the time, and worriedly asked me if everything was alright. I said, “Yeah, mom, I’m fine, just a little nauseous.” and she said fuck no, that’s not cutting it, we’re taking you to the hospital.

I had to get blood transfusions. They weren’t sure I was going to make it. If I’d passed out on the floor of my room like I intended to wait it out, I’d’ve probably died. Gave my poor mother a terrible fright.

It’s pretty gruesome. Black and thick, like charcoal dust. I hope whatever fascist I die on is scarred for life.

“You have a good point, but you aren’t doing what you think you’re doing”

I don’t know what that leopards thing is, or after googling, care.

People who support something bad being surprised when that bad thing happens to them.

An entirely different matter is “solidarity is over/I have no more sympathy for X ethnic group/I hope you suffer X hate crime.” Very real and material statements I have seen.

Then we’re in agreement there. There’s no excuse for that.

I mean, at this point, most of us talking about politics already know that the majority of white folk in the US are fascist (or, in terms the mainstream media prefers to use, ‘Republican’). That’s like talking about the sky being blue. No one is talking about the white vote because we already expected the majority to vote for the oppression of minority groups, like they have in the past (at minimum) 10 presidential elections. That minority groups have increased their support for the oppression of minority groups is much more noteworthy.

It is good to note the increase, as you have here. To use the increase as an attack or blame, as others have elsewhere, is ignorant and bigoted.

Is using it as an example of leopards eating peoples’ faces an attack or blame, just to clarify?

Oh boy, I can’t wait to not be able to afford my medication for my autoimmune disease and die by vomiting blood until I exsanguinate! Thanks abstainers!

You cannot in sound faith compare the uncommitted turnout to the general loss margin and draw conclusions without further data, though I respect the inquisitive approach in doing so.

Then what conclusion is meant to be drawn in this meme by bringing that data point up?

Over my dead Appalachian body!

.46% of general voters? So 1/4 of our loss margin? That’s not nothing.

Don’t get me wrong. The fall into fascism is primarily on white America. The minority vote is overwhelmingly what has kept us from fascism in my lifetime. That minority support for fascism increased in this election is fucking insane and notable.