Rome and America? Is our fall imminent?

[marmar]

I found this website. Makes some interesting observations.


http://www.roman-empire-america-now.com/

Will America Replay
The Fall of the Roman Empire?
Why is America now like the Roman Empire?

Because it's conquering the world?

No. Because Americans are like Romans?

Some are; some are like the Roman Senators of the fifth century, one of the most rapacious and ruthless ruling classes that ever held power. Think Mafia. For the amount of wealth: think billionaires today.

Roman Senators were selfish and self-absorbed, determined to hoard the huge wealth of the empire and determined to promote empire to enhance their wealth even further. The common people lost all power and were lucky if they had enough to eat (they were the humiliores, literally the humble, as opposed to the honestiores, the honored). To learn how this happened, click on Brief History.

Our CEO's and well-connected, despite exceptions like Bill Gates, may even style themselves after those fateful Senators, the ones who presided over, helped connive in, the Fall of Rome.

The Roman Empire fell because it was bankrupted by its leaders; well, look at the red ink now! Budget deficits, trade deficits, a huge national debt that has tripled since George W Bush took power.

Does anyone remember when we were actually paying down the debt?

Both Romans and now Americans have had the misfortune of being ruled by a Selfish Class. Rome fell because of it. Will America replay the Fall of Rome?

[ananda]

1. The fall has already occurred.

America has completely changed.. for the worse.

[Xenotime]

8. Agreed. This is one of the worst countries in the world to live in.

[atreides1]

2. Bread and Circuses

... Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man,
the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time
handed out military command, high civil office, legions - everything, now
restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things:
bread and circuses

Bread and circuses was how the Roman satirist Juvenal characterized the imperial leadership's way of placating the masses.

The only difference is that this imperial leadership forgot the bread!

[Benhurst]

3. It took Rome five hundred years fo fall.

We can beat that one-hundred-fold. We're #1!

[Beelzebud]

4. Not a fair comparison. Rome kept it together for much longer than we will.

[Mark Twain Girl]

5. On the BBC this morning, I heard an interview with an author

from Egypt. He has just written a very popular book about the taxi drivers in Cairo (where the roads are crowded and chaotic), arguing that these drivers have their fingers on the pulse of the country. And how are the taxi drivers feeling? Hopeless, according to this author, particularly when thinking about the future for their children.

So, perhaps this malaise is not limited to the United States -- but, the more important point I took away was the author saying that the only job of any government was to make people believe the lie. What lie?, the BBC reporter asked. The lie that everything is okay, replied the author.

[mmonk]

6. In many ways we have.

The verocity of that fall is yet to be determined. I intend to post a relevant post later as a test to it's acceptance. Depending on that response and critique, I will see if it's publish worthy. But Americans have been cheated out of a peace dividend that could have come with the collapse of the Soviet Union. We have chosen a bad path and it will bring it's costs to bear.

[daa]

7. I just finished the book and really wasn't impressed. eom

[IndianaJones]

9. et tu, marmar? nt.

[marmar]

10. LOL.....

:)