Introduction

The recent interview with Ammon Bundy in The Salt Lake Tribune highlights a recurring theme among certain rural conservatives: the belief that the expansion of government welfare signals the decline of a once-great republic. Bundy’s assertion that the U.S. risks becoming “a centralized dictatorial power” akin to “what Rome became” reflects a common misinterpretation of Roman history.

Urban Welfare in the Roman Empire

Historically, the Roman Empire, particularly during its imperial zenith, implemented extensive welfare programs in urban centers. The annona, or grain dole, ensured that Rome’s urban poor received free or subsidized grain, a policy designed to maintain social stability and prevent uprisings in densely populated areas. Urban welfare was not a sign of decadence but a pragmatic approach to governance.

The Role of the Provinces

In contrast, the provinces were primarily responsible for producing the resources that sustained the empire. Provincial governors collected taxes and managed local affairs, but the benefits of imperial infrastructure―such as roads, aqueducts, and legal systems―were unevenly distributed. While the provinces supported the empire economically, they often lacked the social programs available in urban centers.

Post-Roman Provincial Life

Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the absence of centralized authority led to the fragmentation of territories and the rise of feudal systems. Rural populations became serfs, bound to the land and subject to the whims of local lords. This period marked a significant decline in the quality of life and social mobility for many in the countryside.

Modern Misinterpretations

Bundy and like-minded individuals romanticize a version of the Roman Republic that aligns with their ideals of minimal government and self-reliance. However, this perspective overlooks the complexities of Roman governance and the consequences of its collapse. The disdain for modern welfare programs ignores their role in maintaining social cohesion, much like the Roman grain dole did centuries ago. And nearly to a one of these fellows, they miss how things like food stamps (SNAP benefits) are really more of handout to farmers and agribusiness since the money is used to purchase grains, vegetables, fruits, and meat to sustain the American Farmer. And very few of them ever connect the dots the cities are the ones underwriting the rural hospitals and emergency services as those places almost never have enough income to do that.

Conclusion

By understanding the actual dynamics of the Roman Empire and its aftermath, we can better appreciate the importance of social programs in sustaining a stable and equitable society.The misreading of Roman history by figures like Ammon Bundy serves to justify a political agenda that favors deregulation and reduced social support. Maybe if every family was part of a milita that communally grew its own food and trained up locals to be medical responders, all of that might work. But that would be so much closer to communism than what the Current Empire does, it only the famous bad faith of dogmatic conservatives that keeps them from seeing they are more in accord with Marx or Kropotkin than they are Locke, Paine, and Jefferson.

Sources & Recommended Reading

   •   Graeber, David. Debt: The First 5000 Years. Brooklyn: Melville House, 2011.

   •   Garnsey, Peter. Thinking about Property: From Antiquity to the Age of Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

   •   Harper, Kyle. The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2017.

   •   Wickham, Chris. The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400–1000. London: Penguin Books, 2009.

   •   Salt Lake Tribune. “Anti-government zealot Ammon Bundy rails against the justice system as he evades law enforcement.” April 27, 2025. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/04/27/anti-government-zealot-ammon-bundy/