[walford]

I am making no implication that the dole in and of itself was the cause of the decline and fall of Rome and anyone who knows the history is aware that the seeds were planted centuries before it fell: encouraging dependency, confiscating production, debasing the currency and the government reacting to the resultant ill-effects by insinuating itself even further into the economy.

The entire point of the OP is to consider the similarities to today, including the barbarians waiting to feast on our bones and entrails. And I maintain there are many which are equally dangerous — not only to America’s future, but to the future of Western Civilization itself.

On

[Jacquerie]

IIRC from Gibbon, Augustus was careful to maintain the outward appearances of the republic. The senate, consuls, tribunes were preserved, but the emperor gathered all powers. In particular, the Senate was expected to rubber stamp his will. Not every Senator had to with every vote, but the outcome was never in doubt. Faithful Senators were rewarded with estates and slaves. Just go with the flow.

If my memory is correct, then Roman history rhymes with our own in 2012, for only the outer exoskeleton, the House, Senate, Scotus, States, elections . . . of our republic remains, as Hussein is rapidly gathering all powers. Instead of electing representatives to form our laws, we increasingly have the privilege of voting for HIM to issue diktats instead, with the force of law. Congress has largely become, if not a rubber stamp, then an ineffective opponent and meek bystander to the elected despot.