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You laid out the situation so well - and, boy, it’s pretty bad. How do you think it will all shake out over the next 50 years?

Here is what I fear.

Democracies die when one group figures out they can vote themselves money. At some point, the situation gets so messed up people beg for a leader. They get conditioned to someone else providing for them, that they accept the idea of an overseer.

That is the path of democracy. The typical life span is 200 to 250 years. Then on to tyranny, civil war, or a massive Imperial state. The founding father's knew this.

My fear is that we are past the tipping point. At some date not to long from now the welfare recipients (which are the fasting growing class right now) new immigrants, and others dependent on the state will cede what freedom remains in order to get what they perceive is theirs. It may even work for awhile. But at the end of the day the new State will move to kill those it no longer needs. The Great Terror in France, the Red Terror in Russia, and a host of others show the path we are on.

All because we are no longer a nation of "Can do!" but of "DO FOR ME!"

you are dead on.

Tyranny, Civil war, massive imperial state. how about ALL OF THE ABOVE.

The problems will be so massive, that when the Caesar comes, we will hail him as a hero.

This is the path Rome went on. Republic->unstable corrupt republic->Caesar with pseudo republic trappings.

We are in phase two. Next phase is civil war, bloodshed to prepare the way of the new caesar.

Unfortunately it may take awhile. The good news is that Rome teaches us that an emperor/strongman can stabilize the situation and bring about peace and prosperity for another 100-200 years.

But that’s the best case scenario. More often the entire civilization just falls apart and gets invaded.

And on that cheery note. AVE IMPERATOR!

P.S. If anyone tries to apply the above to current events. Obama is NOT the new caesar. Too stupid, too divisive, we are not ready yet. Read the history of Augustus. He was brilliant and smart and popular. That’s what it will take.