I was inspired by Victor's previous post and his reference to the practices of the Roman emperor Nerva. Interestingly enough, I was reading the following passage from Aristotle's Politics VI.5 today at lunch.
Where there are revenues the demagogues should not be allowed after their manner to distribute the surplus; the poor are always receiving and always wanting more and more, for such help is like water poured into a leaky cask. Yet the true friend of the people should see that they be not too poor, for extreme poverty lowers the character of the democracy; measures therefore should be taken which will give them lasting prosperity; and as this is equally the interest of all classes, the proceeds of the public revenues should be accumulated and distributed among its poor, if possible, in such quantities as may enable them to purchase a little farm, or, at any rate, make a beginning in trade or husbandry.
I will be interested to see what others make of Nerva's and Aristotle's ideas.
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