Rommey and Crassus

I haven't been very good at keeping up with my blog. I tend to start writing about one topic but after all is said and done I find out that I have lost my away along all the mess of text and half ideas. But some ideas still stick more so then others. Looking back at my America posts I quickly realized that I have gone about it the wrong way. I won't delete them but they will stand as a reminder of a past time. 

Mitt Romney is very rich. Right now there is little doubt that he is using his own wealth to earn the Republican nomination.  Romney partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune. We should expect this Romney wants to be president and is willing to put is own money where is mouth is. In way it almost commendable. 

I many ways I see Romney as a modern Marcus Licinius Crassus. Grant it is not a perfect comparison. Romney is not one of the richest men in history nor has he ever lead anyone into battle. But I feel the comparison is justified.

You can guess who is who right?

To grossly simplify Crassus was very rich what he wanted at the end was political glory. The only real way that a roman could get such political glory was on the battlefield. Thus, Crassus lead his legions to a failed invasion of Parthia and died along with his son  Publius who was a rising star a skilled commander.

How Crassus got his wealth was quite ingenious he had his own fire company. Whenever a building in Rome caught fire (some say he had those fires set) he would send out his fire company to buy the building that was on fire at cut rate prices. After the building was bought his slaves would put out the fire. While Crassus did have other investments farms and other things. This is what many historians like to point to as the way in which Crassus went from a rich man to the richest man. 

But being rich was not enough for Crassus he wanted power. If it was not for the military glory of Julius Caesar and Pompey he may have very well gotten it. But it was not to be he was out classed by the  Parthians and lost his head literally. The loss brought great shame to Rome. It lead to the fall of the Roman Republic and gave glory to her enemy Parthia.

     

So what does this have to do with Mr. Romney? Romney if elected would be among the nation's richest presidents. Romney made a lot of is own money by buying business and then selling them. Not quite like the fire company of Crassus but it has been pointed out that his company Bain Capital “apparently looted the companies, left people unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars.” Perhaps a more modern take on the fire company.

I do not dislike Romney for this because it is Capitalism. Capitalism could care less about the worker or the 'everyday' person. As I said in past posts it is the system that we have and everyone seems to like it. Romney made his money and made money for his firm thus he was good at his job. In the eyes of Capitalism and the law what he did was fair. Companies made money for a select few those that work for it are replaceable and if you can get rid of them so you can make more money then you have 'won'.  It should also be pointed out that Crassus fire company was viewed as fair in the eyes of the Romans. Heartless but perfectly legal and the same goes for  Romney.

It is often thought that Crassus death and war was needless. His operations against Parthia, "aroused considerable opposition since Parthia had never done the Romans any harm. Ateius, one of the tribunes, tried to stop Crassus from leaving Rome. When the other tribunes did not allow Ateius to detain Crassus, he called down a formal curse on Crassus as he left the city (54)." In many ways Romney campaign can be seen in the same light. Few Republicans called for him to enter the race. His lack of support form the Republican party has reached the point of mocking. With the reason why he is gaining any of their support is because they have to have someone run against Obama.

It is hard to tell but as I read the histories on Crassus I often see him the same light as Romney. All in Rome knew how Crassus made his money. I cannot imagine that your typical Roman would have liked what Crassus did. Furthermore, Crassus had wealth which in any place or time in history means power. Outside of his wealth and family name Crassus had little to offer. In many ways his death may have been praised. Much like Romney (not that wish death for the man). I believe that few people truly like this man but he simply has the money to keep himself relevant as did Crassus.

Romney is like Crassus in another key way. Crassus went to war in many ways to be popular. Now it maybe a touch bold to say this but Crassus needed to be greater than his rivals. Two popluar men that stood for ideas and had the military power to back it. Thus war was only way in which he could get the popularity he so needed. The same can be said for Romney he wants to be President he believes that he can fix America. He sees it as the only way in which he can be effective. He is willing to sing whatever tune plays to the public he is willing to put up all his wealth to get the power that he seeks even if no one truly wants him to win. 

Romney like Crassus would be nothing without their wealth it was and is the only factor as why they made it as far as they did or are going to. Romney simply spends and spends to find whatever support he can. He seeks support like a thirsty man seeks water. Damn everything else. Romney has to be unclear about what he stands for and he will do as President. Because someone may not like what he has to say and he could lose their fleeting support. 

In the end I should not be to unfair to both this men. Crassus made it history books and will be talked about long after my death or likely the death of anyone reading this. However, Crassus did not make it to the history books as a man of ideas but as a man of wealth and in the end a man of epic failure. While Romney has yet to be a failure it should be pointed out that Romney is not a man of ideas. Romney is no great political thinker. After all Romney is not running ideas but on the fact that he is the other choice in the voting booth. Much like  Crassus was other man at the time in Rome.

As a said before it is not a perfect comparison and it may not even be a fair one. After all Crassus did lead thousands of men to their death for his vain glory. While the worst thing that Romney did is lead thousands of men to the unemployment line. After all is said and done Romney will win the nomination. Leading us to the horrors of endless political ads on television. I would like to think that Crassus would do the same.