Michael J. Taylor | Lightnews

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 12h

Romans pay for the privilege of going to war until 167 BC, although individual soldiers do receive significant material rewards: pay, loot, donatives, and land distributions.

They also get killed a lot.

But Roman voters--all former or future soldiers, vote to go to war virtually every year.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 20h

I know my suit doesn’t look good. I’m at peace with that

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Here the period after the reforms of Ephialtes in the late 460s, and possibly coinciding with the coining of the term "democratia" itself. And yes, the elite literary sources are democracy-critical, although Old Oligarch admits the system works well on its own terms.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Or does Pericles position as a seemingly monarchic figure result from spending other people's money?

Its notable how the democracy typically chews up politicians and spits them out (Miltiades, Aristides, Cimon, Themistokles, etc.), but Pericles rides the bronco until his timely death.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Or, do naval and jury pay act like a sort of negative taxation, binding the demos to the extractive and external revenues.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Or does naval service just overwhelm the fiscal dynamic?

(my gentle critique of fiscal sociology in general is it ignores other ways of interacting with the state, especially military service)

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Any thoughts from people who know more? (nakhthor.bsky.social, nevillemorley.bsky.social)?

Is Athens just like Norway, which has a ton of oil revenue but already had a democracy, and so was able to mobilize extractive revenues to fund a democratic socialist paradise?

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

But overall, the democracy is funded by extractive and external revenues in its most radical phase.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Athens is an exception to prove the rule. The democracy becomes most radical when its funded by a mix of Laurion silver and external tribute (phoros). Citizens only occasionally pay direct tax (eisphora), although they do soak the rich with liturgies.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

It was the abolition of tributum in 167 BC, Tan argues, that really allowed the senatorial elite to dominate the state and extract and exploit provincial resources---voters cared less because it wasn't their money.

The analogy would be Gulf autocracies who run on oil revenues, not taxes.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

In a brilliant book on the Roman Republic, James Tan argued that the populus was most assertive when citizens paid a hefty war-tax (tribute). As a result, they demanded control over war policy (banning fleets, extraordinary elections of commanders, etc.).

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Teaching Greek history stumbled into a puzzle about ancient fiscal sociology, namely relationship between extractive external resources and democracy.

Conventional thinking is that democracy in general is closely linked with internal taxation. Taxpayers vote because they get taxed.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 3d

Very glad to see this series will run to four installations.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 7d

Helpful at the trial for felony bribery.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 10d

Operation Doryphoros and Sporus

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 10d

Anyone interested in the hoplite controversy should tune into what promises to be an absolute banger of a series.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 11d

I guess technically that would have to be a PontiusBot.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 11d

Although this bs app should just spit back "What is truth?" to every query.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 11d

MechaQ just dropped (Q as in Quelle not Anon).

Professor Nutella @jpnudell.bsky.social · 11d

"Text With Jesus offers users an interactive experience with a religious deity."

Now I'm curious who the best* (maybe most entertaining?) divine text partner would be.

NBC10 Philadelphia @nbcphiladelphia.com · 11d

The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf

Professor Nutella @jpnudell.bsky.social · 11d

"Text With Jesus offers users an interactive experience with a religious deity."

Now I'm curious who the best* (maybe most entertaining?) divine text partner would be.

NBC10 Philadelphia @nbcphiladelphia.com · 11d

The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf

People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?

Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.

on.nbc10.com

NBC10 Philadelphia @nbcphiladelphia.com · 11d

The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf

People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?

Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.

on.nbc10.com

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 11d

There is a reason we’re seeing crackdowns on academic freedom now; the old AF paradigm was rooted in the “golden age” job market where profs could and did vote with their feet if any institution or state became too restrictive.

Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 11d

In the US, the only leverage many academics have is threatening to leave. That leverage is growing weaker and weaker as jobs disappear. At this point, beyond a few superstars, it’s effectively nil. There are, of course, other forms of leverage, but they require working in concert.

Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 11d

In the US, the only leverage many academics have is threatening to leave. That leverage is growing weaker and weaker as jobs disappear. At this point, beyond a few superstars, it’s effectively nil. There are, of course, other forms of leverage, but they require working in concert.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 12d

Making Higher Ed leadership into courtiers for the 1% was a terrible mistake.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 12d

Hope he recovers and realizes he needs to let Shapiro appoint Connor Lamb to the seat

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 12d

Hegseth throwing away taxpayer money so he can sound like a tough guy with a new title.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 13d

On the contrary, Trump hasn’t just sh*t his own bed, he flew around in a fighter jet while wearing a crown 👑 and shat on all of America. 💩

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 14d

A Co, 1-160 IN, Iraq, 2007-2008.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 14d

Burnt out tank hull (T-72?) from Desert Storm, just north of the Kuwait border (K-Crossing) on ASR Aspen. 2007-08.

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 14d

Camp Cedar II, near An-Nasiriyah, 2008. 1-160 IN (CA National Guard).

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