Plight of the Small Farmers

After Rome defeated Hannibal, Romes crops were destroyed because Hannibal salted the ground he took. This led to a bit of a problem because farmers could not produce crops and had to sell their land to big corperations who in turn monopolized the farming community in Rome. After this the small farmers basically started a mafia in Rome to make money because there was no where else to turn.

Tiberius Gracchus was a Roman nobel at this time. He came from a rich family and was considered in high regard. This was not enough for Tiberius, once while on his way back home from a battle he noticed large farms replacing the the small local farmers leaving them homeless and turning to crime. So he decided to run as tribune (which is basically a person who can introduce bills to be voted on) to change things and help the small farmers. Tiberius was elected and drafted a land bill to shift the land back to the small farmers, and limit the growth of giant farms owned by the wealthy. He had the senate angry because they owned the large farms and did not want to lose money. The senate decided to bribe this guy named Octavious to veto his land bill and take the fall so the senate would not look like the villain.

Rome had this law back then (even though they didn't write down their laws) that a person had to wait five years to run for tribune again. This would mean that the land bill would vanish unless Tiberius ran again. So he decided to break the law and run again for a back to back term. Next he decided to go for broke and impeach Octavious, which was also illegal. This way when Tiberius got re-elected there would be no opposition for his land bill.

This guy is so awesome, he sees corruption and does what it takes to get it taken care of.

As election day approached and it appeared the Tiberius would win, the senate paid to have him killed, thus ending Tiberius' political career. With Tiberius' death came the death of his land bill. His brother tried to get the bill accomplished after Tiberius but he was also killed as it goes sometimes. This is interesting because it is a shift in the Roman character because before this no one would stoop to murder a respectable man just for greed.

Tiberius Gracchus did what was necessary to help bring justice to the lesser knowns. He heard the plight of the small farmer and fought for them even to the point of death. I want that passion, I hate how often I turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the obvious injustices around me. I mean I work for a giant company where probably 95% of their merchandise was built on the backs of slaves, and still week in week out I work and collect a paycheck from the serpent.

It is unsettling to me how hard it is to make simple right choices, but I seem to fail daily.