Preferring the rich over the poor, eh? You overestimate the reliability of the plebians that you love so much. The plebians have never been, and never will, be a reliable powerbase as a whole. Their minds are fickle and their memories are short. Whatever boon we provide them will be forgotten as soon as a new trouble rise. Whatever trouble they are in will be quickly forgotten as soon as we awe them with our glory. Your path only plunge the Roman Republic into a spiral downward as we try to please, not awe, the plebians.
I do not rely on the Plebeians, and I do not know if they love me or not. I am honored that you believe I am loved by them. I do not rely on the Plebeians as a source of power. I respect them and care for them as Roman citizens of this empire.
We, the Senate, are not the servants of the Roman people. We are their leader, and as leader we must command respect. Our duty is not for the people of Rome, it is for the State of Rome. I suspect that your Greek-education have rotten your mind and soul. You look like Roman, but act like Greek-sissy.
Patricians will always repay their debts. Plebians don't and should not be expected to. It's simple.
The Senate exists to serve Rome. And Rome
is The Roman People and citizens. We command respect, which you seem to not be able to show. Your view of the senate is egotistical and selfish. You see nothing more than your private power and honor and do more to insult and lower the honor of the Romans. It is you who will bring Rome into a spiral of chaos and civil unrest and warfare with your selfish ideals.
No it did not. Perhaps I should remind you that Gracchii died because he lost the support of the uncaring plebians after the reforms passed and was thus considered a nobody that deserved only death? You put your faith in the same plebians?
But it did. The Plebeians were much better fed than are without the Gracchii Reforms. I do not support the reforms for the support of the plebeians. That is only your selfish view, where you think we all only care for our own power and influence. My interest is that Roman citizens will be able to work for their living, own their own lands and be able to feed themselves.
Grain dole and improving grain output of existing plantations.
The Grain Dole will weaken the Roman economy far more than the Gracchii reforms. It will be a constant, and growing hole in the Roman balance.
And how would you go about improving the grain output? By magic perhaps? Or perhaps by granting them more lands - and creating many more poor, increasing the Grain Dole beyond any possible way of fulfilling.
Both of whom are your rivals here in the senate, I observe.
Your observation are simplistic and egotistical. They are also flawed and wrong. I do not consider those who disagree with me as my rivals. If they were to be my rivals, why would I support both of them to control legions of the empire?
One of them's a bloodthirsty maniac and the other is not well known for his management skills. It's almost as if you seem to want to incite rebellions there and blame the generals responsible in order to eliminate potential rivals, senator, but an honorable man such as you would never think of that I suppose.
Learn manners. You are speaking with such disgrace and insults at an honorable senator of Rome. You speak of respect and honor, but show none. Those territories are already the least stable. A man of intrigue and ability to move secret plans and plots is ideal to Anatolia, where the king of Pontus always looks to topple the Roman control over the area.
And why would we not give a less known senator a territory? Yes perhaps he would make less of it, but senators with interest in governing are few and the province of Transalpin Gaul is less economical than others. A good military man is what is needed there.
Also the richest. I suppose a honorable man such as you would never deign to think of getting into consulship with the sole reason of getting money and living a comfortable decadent Greek life with a Greek mistress and bunch of Greek slaves in some manor in sunny coast of Italy, no?
Why would I not? I enjoy what life has to offer. The province is also highly stable and high in its economic power, and I, as a management person at heart, would do well to control such a province for Rome to prosper, as well as myself, I do not deny that. It is also the reason I see Titus Lucretius Longus as a good candidate for the other richest province of our empire. He is also a man of managment who could probably control a province to th very best.
I don't recall asking you if I should do those things, friend. I intend to work with the consul who will be my equal to decide on these things, and you most likely will not be that man.
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The current shortage of food crops can be managed if we can get hold of more slaves to work on the farms. Honorable Roman citizens can do other things, more worth their time i.e. overseeing these slaves.
If my humble self, were to be provided an opportunity to deal with the barbarians to the north, I could ensure that there would be no shortage of slaves to tend the fields or for other trivial acts, because of our families extensive expertise in working with these slaves.
I would support Marius Blandinus Servius for such an overseeing station. More slaves are always a requirement of the empire and its people.
OOC: Anyone else wanna run for consul?
