Vespasian imposed a Urine Tax (Latin: vectigal urinae) on the distribution of urine from Rome's public urinals (the Roman lower classes urinated into pots, which were later emptied into cesspools). The urine collected from these public urinals was sold as an ingredient for several chemical processes. It was used in tanning, wool production, and also by launderers as a source of ammonia to clean and whiten woollen togas. The buyers of the urine paid the tax.
The Roman historian Suetonius reports that when Vespasian's son Titus complained about the disgusting nature of the tax, his father held up a gold coin and asked whether he felt offended by its smell. When Titus said "No," Vespasian replied, "Yet it comes from urine".
Money has been associated with Bad Things
(shit, piss, dirt, evil, guilt, shame) basically since the concept of exchange was invented. Money actually used to be something separate from the process of exchanging useful goods. Early societies basically used "money" objects as a way to swing their dick around. If you have away a lot of money, it meant you were a Big Deal and the person who took it took all the guilt away.
This is an important lesson today because NGOs and charity - which the Left is obsessed with - is that exact same impulse.
Translation: Shut the fuck up and take the money.
Urine was big money until the 1950s and frankly it astonishes me we literally piss it away today given it's an amazing chemical feedstock.
I'd imagine the logistics of collecting it from households would be more expensive than just synthesizing the relevant chemicals.
Though, it could be an interesting solution to the pharma-polution that's caused by urine.
Money has been associated with Bad Things (shit, piss, dirt, evil, guilt, shame) basically since the concept of exchange was invented. Money actually used to be something separate from the process of exchanging useful goods. Early societies basically used "money" objects as a way to swing their dick around. If you have away a lot of money, it meant you were a Big Deal and the person who took it took all the guilt away.
This is an important lesson today because NGOs and charity - which the Left is obsessed with - is that exact same impulse.
Marcel Mauss's The Gift covers this in more detail if you want a read.
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