mmon men of Rome were more
and more likely to be poor slaves furthered the process
and deepened the abyss between the haves and have-nots.

8. Among the forces of disintegration operating in Rome
none was more potent and more decisive than the numerical
growth of the military and the increasing probability
that any one of the growing contradictions and conflicts
would lead to intervention by the military. Roman emperors
were dictators and their retention of authority
was increasingly decided by the legions which were
willing and able to fight for the perpetuation and extension
of their authority.

9. The extensive, complicated, elaborate structure of Roman
civilization involved a persistent and implacable rise of
overhead costs of food and raw materials, of production,
of transportation, of the bureaucracy, including the military.
The area of Roman civilization increased arithmetically.
Overhead costs rose geometrically. They were
expressed in an empty treasury, rising taxes, inflation,
expropriation, the degradation of the currency.

10. Side by side with the rise in overhead costs went the
increase of parasitism among the rich and among the poor.
Something-for-nothing was the order of the day. Speculation
was rampant. Gambling was universal. Instead of
living by production of goods and services, Romans let
the slaves do their work and lived by their wits.

11. From top to bottom of Roman society negative forces
replaced positive forces. Self directed labor gave place to
slavery; participation in productive activity yielded to
parasitism; productivity was subordinated to destructivity;
the spirit of independence was replaced by the acceptance
of increasing arbitrary individual authority.

12. Roman society constantly faced and consistently failed
to solve the contradiction between centralism and local
interests and local rights. This contradiction increased
with increasing size, diversity and complexity.

13. Psychological forces played a part in the breakdown and
break-up of Roman civilization. People lost faith and hope.
They became disillusioned and cynical. They forgot the
common good and devoted themselves to the gratification
of body hungers. They turned from proud service of
fatherland to the pursuit of pleasure for pleasure's sake.
Romans lost freshness and vigor. Creativeness