No question that there are a number of non-economic factors that shape nations' prosperity. The overall stupidity of the American public, the dumbing-down of the average voter and his willingness to accept total nonsense ("global warming," "1 percenters") suggest exactly the kinds of conditions that allow a dictator to come in and just take over.
That said, there is no doubt that on some levels we are on the cusp of massive technological upheavals---especially in energy---that can offer promise beyond anything we've ever known.
A student today asked when Social Security would get so bad that they fix it, and my answer was, it will collapse first. No one will dare do the difficult thing (whatever solutions you propose) because it would hurt them too bad politically.
Still, because of your gender, I cannot say that I would hit it. :)
I'd suspect that the true cause of the fall of Rome was multifaceted, and that each factor amplified another. This would certainly be one of those factors!
No question that there are a number of non-economic factors that shape nations' prosperity. The overall stupidity of the American public, the dumbing-down of the average voter and his willingness to accept total nonsense ("global warming," "1 percenters") suggest exactly the kinds of conditions that allow a dictator to come in and just take over.
I'd argue also that the destruction of good personal morals is one of our primary weaknesses. A few of the Founders warned us, and the Soviets were smart enough to know to target those morals in the long-term.
Speaking of dumbing down: Have you SEEN the Common Core math methodology? They took very simple concepts and made them so absurdly difficult, that simple subtraction becomes a challenge. I don't think this is an accident. I think it is intended, to further hamstring America in a generation or two, technically and competitively.
That said, there is no doubt that on some levels we are on the cusp of massive technological upheavals---especially in energy---that can offer promise beyond anything we've ever known.
Free(ish) energy can definitely prop us up, no matter the other downfall reasons, for a little longer.
A student today asked when Social Security would get so bad that they fix it, and my answer was, it will collapse first. No one will dare do the difficult thing (whatever solutions you propose) because it would hurt them too bad politically.
Absolutely agree. That is why it is crucial to never allow such a program -- like Obamacare -- to be started. Too late, of course.... but a good warning for the few percent of our progeny that study the collapse of America in future generations.