Posted on 05/07/2015 4:14:04 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
Why did Rome and Byzantium fall apart after centuries of success? What causes civilizations to collapse, from a dysfunctional fourth-century-B.C. Athens to contemporary bankrupt Greece?
The answer is usually not enemies at the gates, but the pathologies inside them.
What ruins societies is well known: too much consumption and not enough production, a debased currency, and endemic corruption.
Americans currently deal with all those symptoms. But two more fundamental causes for decline are even more frightening: an unwillingness to pay taxes and the end of the rule of law.
Al Sharpton is again prominently in the news, blaming various groups for the Baltimore unrest. But Sharpton currently owes the U.S. government more than $3 million in back taxes, according to reports. His excuses have ranged from insufficient funds to pay them to sloppy record-keeping and mysterious fires.
Sharpton, a frequent White House guest, apparently assumes that his community-organizing provides him political exemption from federal tax law. He seems to be right, at least as long as the current administration is in power.
The Clinton Foundation is expected to refile its tax returns for 2010, 2011, and 2012 after failing to separate government grants from donations. If an average citizen tried to amend his taxes for such huge sums and from that long ago, he would probably be under indictment.
News reports of undocumented donations from foreign governments caught the foundation underreporting its income. The well-connected Clinton clan apparently had assumed that their political status ensured them immunity.
In the current political landscape, ideology also offers cover for tax noncompliance. Two of the most liberal talking heads at the MSNBC cable news network, Touré Neblett and Melissa Harris-Perry ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
VDH ping ...
When you look back at the huge Greek empire that existed all the way up until around 300 BC....they were capitalist kings of the Med, and somewhere along the way....among the problems, taxation became an issue. Rarely is it dragged out by historians but major traders came to look for low-taxation states (the same way that companies leave California today), and found fresh new low-tax empires to settle into.
Among the dozen reasons for the Roman Empire decline....same story...taxation reached epidemic proportions.
It amazes me that no one seems to want to write a book over the history of taxation.
VDH as always nails it.
Thanks for the ping. I was just checking you had the article posted been posted. It is titled “No Law, No Civilization” in Townhall.com
8. The ways in which a great debt, so constituted and applied, will contribute to the ultimate end in view are both numerous and obvious. (4) A great debt will require great taxes; great taxes, many taxgatherers and other officers; and all officers are auxiliaries of power.
11. As soon as sufficient progress in the intended change shall have been made, and the public mind duly prepared according to the rules already laid down, it will be proper to venture on another and a bolder step toward a removal of the constitutional landmarks.
http://www.constitution.org/cmt/freneau/republic2monarchy.htm
The CORRUPTION in this government is beginning to smell so bad, that even these LIBERALS, SOCIALISTS and COMMUNISTS are beginning to complain. This next election will determine which way we will go. Should we get a government that will get rid of all these GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS that are strangling this country, then we have a chance to get back our freedoms. Should the voters choose to continue the way we are going, then we’ll wind up like GREECE. YOUR CHOICE VOTERS, SO CHOOSE WISELY
I like "No Law, No Civilization" much better!
The election for the HOR and US Senate in 2014 was supposed to do that. In spite of the disgust over Cochran stealing the nomination in Mississippi and all of the other backstabbing maneuvers by the Republican elite to keep conservatives out of nominations, conservatives gave establishment Republcans another chance with an unimaginable overwhelming victory.
And what did McConnell, Boehner, and all their fellow travelers do? They've given Obama everything he wants
I bring up that bit of recent history to kindle realization. That election was the last one where there was any chance to get the US back. Just the opposite happened. The Kingdom of Corruption has got to fail. Hope for something better in its aftermath, but be prepared to survive on your own.
VDH does always hit the nail on the head.
The article brings to mind Ben Carson’s comments at the prayer breakfast and the expression on Obama’s face during them. The left always seems to have what I’m sure they believe to be “the audacity of Hope” that this time they’ll get it right. In truth, it’s always just the same old raw ambition for power over others.
How many times must we be taught these lessons before we learn?
From the Sibylline oracles on the Social Wars:
“Italy, to thee no foreign war shall come, but a people of thy blood shall destroy thee, shameless one, with many woes, stalwart as thou art and much renowned.
And thou, stretched by thine own warm offerings, careless of thy children’s future, shalt slay thyself, and thou shall be not the mother of heroes but the nurse of beasts.”
> The CORRUPTION in this government is beginning to smell so bad, that even these LIBERALS, SOCIALISTS and COMMUNISTS are beginning to complain
Only because it is now affecting them personally. The cost of living has increased significantly under Obama, taxes and fees of every type are up; Obamacare turned out to be a scam and information gathering tools
that invaded everyone’s privavy with even more nefarious implications, gainful employment (jobs) is almost non-existent for many unless they have accumulated huge college debt, throw in illegal immigrants taking their jobs and that kicks them in the pants even harder, the threat of being attacked by terrorists is at an all-time high, and now they’re starting to understand why the Constitution was written in the first place but WORST of all for them to stomach...
The Tea Party was right about it all and the Muslim infiltrator and they can’t stand it...
> The CORRUPTION in this government is beginning to smell so bad, that even these LIBERALS, SOCIALISTS and COMMUNISTS are beginning to complain
Only because it is now affecting them personally. The cost of living has increased significantly under Obama, taxes and fees of every type are up; Obamacare turned out to be a scam and information gathering tools that invaded everyone’s privavy with even more nefarious implications, gainful employment (jobs) is almost non-existent for many unless they have accumulated huge college debt, throw in illegal immigrants taking their jobs and that kicks them in the pants even harder, the threat of being attacked by terrorists is at an all-time high, and now they’re starting to understand why the Constitution was written in the first place but WORST of all for them to stomach...
The Tea Party was right about it all and the Muslim infiltrator and they can’t stand it...
Thanks for this badly-needed reality check. Anyone who thinks a bright future depends on a GOP victory in 2016 is fooling himself.
Under ordinary circumstances, you'd be correct: most elections revolve around issues. However, under obama, where illegals are permitted to vote, goodies are exchanged for the votes of ignorant gibmedats, there is no opposition party as such, and voting fraud is rampant, the rules have changed. Issues have become irrelevant.
Too many times, unfortunately. Human nature is hard to overcome.
But I tell you one of the top symptoms can be best exemplified by this tweet from Mark Knoller about Obama's May 4th speech:
Pres Obama says too many potential role models for boys of color are "languishing in prison over minor non-violent drug offenses."Just think about what Obama said for one second, because you know he doesn't think.
The pretender to the WH thought those dealing in drugs (think about their user/"victim" pool) "languishing in prison" are the best "potential role models for boys of color". What kind of top executives in the past EVER said such things? Obama's selling 'boys of color' way too short.
Over the many years I have been on this website I have on numerous occasions said “vote for the candidate...not the party” and “the Republicans expect your vote and have no inclination to change their ways since they will get your vote anyway.”
Americans are “political lemmings” and will follow their party of choice right over the cliff into the ocean of political slavery with a smile on their faces.
The Democrat party has gone far beyond socialist and right into communist. The Republican party is the party of “fat cats” and after reelection will revert to exactly what they were doing to start with.....making themselves rich through corruption and crony capitalism.
This is it........the time has come to VOTE ONLY FOR THE CANDIDATE AND NOT THE PARTY!
This is our last chance and if we “muff” it, your children will pay dearly for it.
I always remember the story about how, in order to fund his building projects and war to reconquer Rome, Justinian the Great forced wealthy Byzantines to change their wills to leave their estates to the State . . . . . and then had them murdered.
I wish we could nominate an elder statesman with a lifetime of experiences that emulate constitutional conservative principles, along with the integrity and ability to articulate what needs to be done. That would be Jeff Sessions.
The rest of them, though some are better than others, are still finding their way and don't have that lifetime of practiced and tested values.
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