America's Decadence Signals End of an Empire
Please discuss and let worry and panic ensue at once. :cold:
Please discuss and let worry and panic ensue at once. :cold:
This idea has been around for hundreds of years and is flawed. The evolution of an Empire is not its end...though it may signal an end of some aspects to some people. Basing opinion on outdated dogma never gives an accurate assessment of reality to anyone but the individual or group voicing said opinion. In fact many will see these changes as healthy growth of society and increased health of the "Empire".
1) yes, the end of civility, freedom, and the civilized populace.
2) yes, I am sure the barbarian hoards that sacked Rome felt it quite a bit of healthy growth to be able to rape, pillage and murder.
Interesting...Personally I find most Religions to be uncivil and very opposed to freedom, I take it this would be what you are basing your "Civilized Populace" upon?
Telling everyone who does not think as you do they are doomed is NOT civil. AND basing the realities of modernity on ancient history is rather ignorant, as is assuming you actually "KNOW" what it entails.
you're talking about religion, yet the article did not? So maybe you should create a new thread for this line of debate or discuss the article at hand, eh?
~OR~ Maybe you should fess up to what I stated and quit trying to hide from your own positions?
To anyone of even minimal intellect it would be obvious the commentary of this thread led directly to you being called out on employing religion in defense of your OP.....
On what do you base your perception of Civility and freedom?
Would a Muslim feel the same way?
An Atheist?
Your perception of what you consider a collapsing Empire is based almost entirely on your religious faith and Dogma. I am simply pointing this out from the perspective of someone devoid of this influence.
The subject of the rise and decline of powerful countries is quite interesting, and can lend a lot of knowledge about the nature of nations, international power, and patterns of growth and decline.
The form of government is really not important in such a study. The fact that a nation-state has risen to the top of the heap, and has the power to control vast areas of the globe, puts it in the position of top-dog. The question is not if it will eventually fail and be humiliated, but when and how.
I heard a radio interview with the author of the work that started this thread. He seems scholarly and intelligent (mostly because his work mirrors many of my own findings on the subject -
). It isn't a "doom and gloom" scenario he paints. It is a work of socio-political scientific study and I think his findings are worthy of consideration.
The patterns of growth, stagnation, and decline are as evident in the USA as they were in each of the other world powers in the study. The people of the times were too close to the events to see the patterns.
Most are like green-horn tourists trying to find their way through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All they can see is trees and rocks. But, if you climb one of the tallest rocks and look around, you can get a better perspective of the terrain. (Forget climbing the trees; lowest branches on Sequoias tend to be about 40 feet from the ground...)
I find that looking at current events through historic perspective gives a lot better understanding of the world and how it works.
Watching the decline has been interesting. Seeing the politicians claiming to do good things, but always getting bad results, has been enlightening. Wading into the political fray and trying to change things for the better has been invigorating. Realizing that it is inevitable has been liberating.
Now that I understand it isn't my problem to solve, I am free to stay above the fray and laugh at the clowns. It makes the circus so much more fun to watch.
The form of government is really not important in such a study. The fact that a nation-state has risen to the top of the heap, and has the power to control vast areas of the globe, puts it in the position of top-dog. The question is not if it will eventually fail and be humiliated, but when and how.
I heard a radio interview with the author of the work that started this thread. He seems scholarly and intelligent (mostly because his work mirrors many of my own findings on the subject -
). It isn't a "doom and gloom" scenario he paints. It is a work of socio-political scientific study and I think his findings are worthy of consideration.The patterns of growth, stagnation, and decline are as evident in the USA as they were in each of the other world powers in the study. The people of the times were too close to the events to see the patterns.
Most are like green-horn tourists trying to find their way through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All they can see is trees and rocks. But, if you climb one of the tallest rocks and look around, you can get a better perspective of the terrain. (Forget climbing the trees; lowest branches on Sequoias tend to be about 40 feet from the ground...)
I find that looking at current events through historic perspective gives a lot better understanding of the world and how it works.
Watching the decline has been interesting. Seeing the politicians claiming to do good things, but always getting bad results, has been enlightening. Wading into the political fray and trying to change things for the better has been invigorating. Realizing that it is inevitable has been liberating.
Now that I understand it isn't my problem to solve, I am free to stay above the fray and laugh at the clowns. It makes the circus so much more fun to watch.
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A variety of experience influences my definitions of words. Civility and civil are concepts that are not owned by any religion and I did not infer that. I haven't brought up religion once in this thread.
You have jumped the shark ole boy . All is forgiven, however, as everyone is entitled to such a misstep now and again. Also since Christ forgave I must also forgive. I will be Chrisitan about it and turn the other cheek :giggle:.
In Batman Begins, the League of Shadows plays an important role in toppling societies/empires when they become too corrupt, decadent, etc.
not a big deal, but more proof that this is the end...
Book of Prophesies 2012: Baba Vanga prophesied: 44th US president would be black and bring crises
Book of Prophesies 2012: Baba Vanga prophesied: 44th US president would be black and bring crises
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Basically she predicted that Obama would be the last US president. Therefore and hitherto, we can ascertain that who ever gets "elected" as next president is not really elected but placed there.
Those are quite intersting facts, and certainly seem pertinent to the current dillemma of our society's survival and continuted dominance of the planet. I did similar mathematical and historic comparisons years ago and concluded that it was unlikely that the postition of "Empire of the Free World" could last my lifetime.
That said, it has lasted a long time more than I would have predicted in 1965 or 1976... or a lot of times since then, when it looked like it should collapse at any moment.
Technologies change, and with them the methods of dealing with the future changes. Mind-bending techniques that weren't heard of 20 years ago are common practice on social media today. Psychological controls that would have been unthinkable a few years ago are now implemented on a regular basis. Nobody cares or notices.
So, the length of time it takes a corrupt imperial system to fail may vary due to new methods, but the inevitability of the fall is guaranteed. Similar to economic failures, the artificial propping up of the system is likely to make the eventual fall even more spectacular.
When it happens I want to be where I can duck behind a pile of rocks and wait for the fallout to dissipate.
That said, it has lasted a long time more than I would have predicted in 1965 or 1976... or a lot of times since then, when it looked like it should collapse at any moment.
Technologies change, and with them the methods of dealing with the future changes. Mind-bending techniques that weren't heard of 20 years ago are common practice on social media today. Psychological controls that would have been unthinkable a few years ago are now implemented on a regular basis. Nobody cares or notices.
So, the length of time it takes a corrupt imperial system to fail may vary due to new methods, but the inevitability of the fall is guaranteed. Similar to economic failures, the artificial propping up of the system is likely to make the eventual fall even more spectacular.
When it happens I want to be where I can duck behind a pile of rocks and wait for the fallout to dissipate.
If "the empire" does die, it is because too many stupid voters fell for "the shiny object".
Ahhhh, isn't democracy wonderful!?
A system where the stupid and greedy vote to support corrupt schemers, in order to make rules and regulations for everybody, looting the producers to support the leeches, with the majority of voters getting their information from 10-second soundbites and professional myrmidon herders.
Pardon me if I scoff at the idea that such a system could possibly produce good results. It is only passably defended by comparing it to the worse systems that predate it (similar to defending waterboarding as less inhumane than the rack.)
It gives me peace of mind to refrain from playing that electoral game.
May the non-initiation of Force be with you.