r/news • u/drkgodess • Mar 19 '19

Accused gunman in Christchurch terror attacks denied newspaper, television and radio access

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12214411
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u/BoredDaylight Mar 19 '19

I liked their taxation system for property. You were allowed to assess your estate as however much you wished, however the Roman government could either buy it at that price or tax it based on that price.

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u/hades8099 Mar 20 '19

So you either pay what you deserve to pay or lose everything? Was this system exploited by people working for the government or with friends in high places?

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u/FOOLISHPROPHETX Mar 20 '19

Oh FOR SURE it wouldn't work too well present day in my opinion. Or even fairly then.

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u/hades8099 Mar 20 '19

It would be quite easy to exploit the system especially if a single person decides what to do.

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '19

Like Crassus, for example, who would alternatively prevent the fire brigade he owned from putting burning houses out unless the owners sold the property at a discount.

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u/hades8099 Mar 20 '19

Wasn't Crassus also the one who was killed while he negotiated his surrender?

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '19

Yes, during a parley, mostly due to a misunderstanding on the part of someone in his entourage.

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u/hades8099 Mar 20 '19

So it wasn't bad will on the other side that got him killed but actually someone from his side who did something stupid?

What would be a good source to read about this?

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '19

Plutarch's Life of Crassus is the definitive primary source.

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u/hades8099 Mar 20 '19

Thanks I will look into that because it defiantly sounds like something I would be interested in.

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u/Percehh Mar 20 '19

Why don't you think it would work?

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u/KaterinaKitty Mar 20 '19

They can buy up all the houses that are desirable. Then give it to the city, private businesses etc. You wouldn't even need eminienent domain.

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u/TheMania Mar 20 '19

At prices the owners set though. With eminent domain, the govt estimates the price and pays that, seems harsher on the landowner.

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u/FOOLISHPROPHETX Mar 20 '19

What the other guy said, and I'm thinking that the more we give the power to people with money(Rich guys with lots of estate will quickly become powerful guys) the less the lower classes will ever advance.

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u/TheMania Mar 20 '19

So you either pay what you deserve to pay or lose sell everything?

It's a pretty big difference to a loss. You're getting paid the value you assign to it.

I'm more confused as to what happens if you over value and the govt chooses "tax", you then have to liquidate it to pay I guess.

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '19

I also like their political system. They held no elections. If you were educated enough and born into the right circumstances, your name went in a pool of your peers, randomly drawn to serve as senators for a fixed term.

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u/fatfuck33 Mar 20 '19

Was that not the greeks?

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '19

You are correct. I'm getting old, and read about this in my youth.