Rome and Fascism

A fan of the Ancient Rome Refocused page asserted that the Romans would be more comfortable in a fascist state than in our own democracy - never mind that the founders based our own U.S. Constitution on the Roman Republic.  I responded thus:


If these census figures are to be believed, the Romans had representation indirectly through their client-patron relationships in the Senate. They could also participate in the 3 assemblies.

Though the Emperors enjoyed a type of totalitarianism. They all thought such unchecked power to be despicable. That is why Imperial historians like Suetonius were critical of men like Caligula and Nero. Again it is important to appreciate the genius of the Lycurgian constitution explained by Polybius:

How the Roman Republic fell is the same is why our constitutions are failing us, because more evil men are overwhelming the virtuous men. The solution is to create more virtuous men - like Cato the Younger, Cicero, and Cincinnatus. The creation of more virtuous men can only be done by example. Cato the Younger, Cicero, and Cincinnatus knew that.

In a lot of ways Rome's problems as our own problems are spiritual.


What do you think?  Post your comments here and join the discussion.  Thank you!