Go Roman!

The Nova Roman census is approaching and it seems certain that the end result will be a drastic pruning of the citizen rolls. One hopes, against all the evidence, that otherwise dormant citizens will identify themselves and stave off the inevitable.

Some may not want to pay the tax, others may not want to vote, and others will not want to do either but out of all three groups of the “disappeared” there will be those that still want to be classed as citizens. These will not be enough though to redress the flow out of Nova Roma.

Here we reach the dichotomy, for some citizens at least. A strong and active Nova Roma is the common goal of those still with enough faith in the possibilities for the future, but that may come at too greater price for them. Increased citizens do not necessarily mean increasing the numbers of those that adhere to the Religio as their own personal religion.

Nova Roma could become more secular, and in fact since there is no wellspring of adherents outside Nova Roma, just isolated pockets and individuals, that is quite likely if citizen numbers increase. What is important though is that the Religio is protected and supported by all new citizens, since this will allow it to gradually grow. The more people who join and dedicate themselves to this then the stronger the Religio will become.

The Go Roman! project is a viable and proactive method of increasing the citizen base, from within universities in all provinces of Nova Roma. If we are to counter the drain of citizens we need to seriously and consistently attempt to attract new citizens. There are sufficient traditions and historic evidence that Rome, right from its inception, did not sit passively by and just wait for people to drift in, and neither should Nova Roma.

Increasing the citizen base will increase taxes, the proportion probably similar to that payed now, and offer Nova Roma fresh opportunities to expand. The next few months will be critical and supporting Go Roman! is equivalent to supporting the existence and growth of Nova Roma.

When Go Roman! is put before the Senate and people of Nova Roma it should be wholeheartedly supported.