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this great victory still stands at the site of this battle. The victory stiffened the Germans and from that time onward they pressed against the Empire whenever an opportunity arose. ROMAN GOLD SUBSTITUTE—WAR BORROWING Men seldom go into debt freely. We have seen how The System demands that new money be borrowed into existence in order to pay 11 for 10 when only 10 exist. This will work for that class of citizen who is always in debt, but it will not do for that solid type of citizen who for business or religious reasons will not borrow or go into debt. This type of individual must be forced to borrow new money into existence for the good of soci- ety as a whole. This is most easily done in wartime. It then becomes a ‘patriotic’ measure. The ideal war is the kind that results in conquests with light casualties. If such wars are not available, one must make do with what one has. Spain was such a case. Rome waged a long continuing war with her which lasted for generations. Whenever money got scarce as interest payments took money out of circu- lation, the Spanish War would be taken off the back burner and heated up. This provided the excuse to levy new taxes, the pay- ment of which required private Roman citizens to borrow new money into existence from their friendly bankers. order to pay 11 for 10 when only 10 exist. This will work for that class of citizen who is always in debt, but it will not do for "he Roman Peace—25 BC - 175 AD that solid type of citizen who for business or religious reasons will not borrow or go into debt. This type of individual must be forced to borrow new money into existence for the good of soci- ety as a whole. This is most easily done in wartime. It then becomes a ‘patriotic’ measure. The ideal war is the kind that results in conquests with light casualties. If such wars are not available, one must make do with what one has. Spain was such a case. Rome waged a long Rome found herself at war in Spain, Syria, and Germany. This was too much even for Rome. The attempt to wind down the military adventures ushered in the period called the Roman Peace. This “Peace” was not completely free from war, but it was quieter than the years preceding it. It also turned out to be the villain in the destruction of the Roman Empire. Peace or no peace the Roman armies still must be fed, housed and armed. To do this, taxes were farmed out to the various continuing war with her which lasted for generations. Whenever Provinces. The provinces in turn farmed them out to the various money got scarce as interest payments took money out of circu- Cities. _The cities farmed them out to the individual citizens, lation, the Spanish War would be taken off the back burner and _idustries and farms which surrounded them. This meant that a heated up. This provided the excuse to levy new taxes, the pay- certain tax was due on a certain date based on the amount of ment of which required private Roman citizens to borrow new ‘Money needed by the Empire—and it must be paid. There was money into existence from their friendly bankers. no way out of it. The central government did not borrow money as a rule. This Problem Wars left the individual Roman citizen holding the bag. The average A problem occurred in 54 BC when Crassus, the great Roman Roman had very little money, and so in order to pay these taxes, financier, took an army into Syria to see if he could expand he was forced to borrow from private bankers. Borrowing 10 Roman holdings. In that day a leader had to pay for the privilege Pieces of silver and having to repay 20 over a period of time of conquering a province. If he were victorious he had a lease became an impossibility, and so the farmers threw their hands up on his conquests for five years. That is, after the expenses of | 4% abandoned their farms to their creditors. They weren't mak- using the Roman army were met. Everything above the military 08 enough to pay the interest on their debts which they had expenses that could be milked from the conquered land belonged incurred to pay taxes, and so they came to town and became part to the general. After five years of such of the Roman mob. This was the origin of exploitation the province reverted to = aoe 7 = ae Rome, A Sich or ke caulil : Ay: : oman farmers. His farm was sold to a anal _—" pr en sc well his Borrowing 10 pieces of new debt-free immigrant for the remainder campaign went before the conquest, and silver and having to repay —_°% “te money owed on it. how successful the tax collections were 9 over a period of time Roman Welfare State Crassus was a good general, but he became an impossibility, Welfare in a usury society is always 4 ri 't hand] : designed to aid the welfare of The System prey a Ue edi -o - and so the farmers threw and, only incidentally, the welfare of the Parthians. This involved Rome in their hands up and individual. Rome was no exception. The bankrupt Roman farmer arriving in town never-ending wars with this nation. It ae i : was a running wound which helped abandoned their farms to found three possible avenues open to him: bleed Rome of her manhood, but offered their creditors. 1. He could join the Roman army—a rel- a perpetual excuse to borrow continu- atively carefree life. There was freedom ously more and more money into exis- = from responsibility, and certainly there was tence, freedom from taxes. Of course, the soldier Thus, the Romans’ debts grew larger and larger while more WOuld be called on to build the Roman roads and fortifications and more Roman boys min tow wh ai and help with the maintenance of the walled cities. Too, there was always the never-ending training and actual fighting Herman—16 BC - 21 AD required periodically in the life of a soldier. The second of the problems was that of the Germans led by 2. He could go as a colonist to the new lands in Africa, Spain, Herman. Herman was a German serving in the Roman army France which were open to settlement. Unfortunately the tax when he learned of the coming Roman invasion of his native followed him to the new land, and often this made the new land German lands. Using the cloak of official business to travel U8profitable to work even before the plough had been put into extensively beyond the Rhine, he aroused the scattered German the ground. peoples who formed a confederation to fight the coming inva- 3. He could stay in Rome and go on the welfare lists. This sion. allowed him to eat, and also served the needs of the state. When Roman preparations were complete, the Roman legions As mentioned before, the overriding need of Rome in the wound their way across the Rhine into the forests of Germany. ‘peace phase’ was to increase the money supply. New conquests It was in the Teutoberg Forest that Herman and his warriors had stopped. There was no captured gold arriving to pay interest waited. When the time was right, the attack was made. The bat- 0n debts. Most native Romans were deeply in debt and couldn't tle lasted three days. When it was over, the Roman legions had borrow new money into existence. New debt-free immigrants ee a ee ae Problem Wars Thus, the Romans’ debts grew larger and larger while more and more Roman boys marched away forever. Herman—16 BC - 21 AD The second of the problems was that of the Germans led by Herman. Herman was a German serving in the Roman army when he learned of the coming Roman invasion of his native German lands. Using the cloak of official business to travel extensively beyond the Rhine, he aroused the scattered German peoples who formed a confederation to fight the coming inva- sion. When Roman preparations were complete, the Roman legions wound their way across the Rhine into the forests of Germany. It was in the Teutoberg Forest that Herman and his warriors waited. When the time was right, the attack was made. The bat- tle lasted three days. When it was over, the Roman legions had been annihilated. The monument to Herman commemorating NEXUS*31 Continued on page 66 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1993