{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/d1a6ddca-f102-4b5c-8d87-630132fe5aaa/62113e5414c719001417c6d8?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Optimates","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/614dadb9772a06c8466159a2/1645468469168-3164ae8a420b2dee74187068e125c41f.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><br></p><p><em>\"Another cause which kept the plebeians in as state of poverty was the unjust distribution of the public land (ager publicus) which had been acquired in war...\"</em></p><p>William C. Morey, Outline of Roman History</p><p><br></p><p><strong>The Optimates:</strong></p><p>Represented the Elites in the run-up to, and the middle of, the Roman Civil Wars</p><p>Believe the mob wasn’t really fit to rule, wanted to rule for them</p><p>Also represented special interests who benefited personally from a lot of laws that led to unsustainable economic conditions -- such as the (not) Lex Agraria</p><p>\t(Lex Agraria: redistribution due to the landlessness of soldiers during the Punic Wars)</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Who are the Optimates Today?</strong></p><p>We might think they’re just the rich, or megacorporations (or sometimes, lobbyists). Those are certainly Optimates, but we forget that those with Special Interests are everywhere.</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://reconsidermedia.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">See the full show notes at ReConsider Media</a></p><p><a href=\"https://patreon.com/reconsider\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Support the show by becoming a Patron</a></p>","author_name":"Erik Fogg"}