One can quote Tyler, Murrow, or Glubb. I prefer Gen. Glubb today.
The Age of Pioneers (outburst)
The Age of Conquests
The Age of Commerce
The Age of Affluence
The Age of Intellect
The Age of Decadence.
The six phases of Empire. Are they inevitable? Probably. We are now at “Decadence”, I think all freepers would agree. Is there a way to hold back the hands of time and eke out a few more decades for our Republic? I don’t know. For the sake of my grandchildren, I hope so.
I do believe how we deal with this “wealth inequity” is the key, IMHO. Can we change course to a new course that uses the power of markets to increase the wealth of the poor? As my tag line suggests, I don’t think gummint can play a role in that. This really is the heart of the matter. We continue to behave like we believe that gummint can do this. Yet at each turn we seem to be surprised that the “unintended consequences” of each attempt just make the wealthy even more wealthy.
I guess what is needed is a massive education of a critical mass of citizens who, as individuals pursuing their own interests, not as a community or group, to the need to embrace some values that can not be quantized, cannot be “managed” into irrelevancy. If you ask me, a simple interpersonal insistence on Integrity. Only deal with those who have a well deserved reputation for integrity and shun those who don’t. Resist those opportunities to improve one’s own circumstances when those opportunities bring us into contact with individuals who do not have this reputation.
Of course, this requires that a significant mass of people “see the light” almost simultaneously. When those lacking integrity begin to suffer they will begin to realize the penalty for choosing to do so is not acceptable they will “join the club”. Until then there would be no course change, no staving off the inevitable decline through Decadence into oblivion.
I don’t think we have the luxury of a lot of time. What our country is doing is not sustainable. Yet voting changes nothing. So if we are to effect change it has to be through some other medium. If we try to work together cooperatively we fall into the trap of “positive Liberty” and lose. What is needed is for a significant, “critical mass” of us to have a “spiritual rebirth”. (If my people call on me...”). I am not saying folks have to “be reborn” as Evangelicals. I am saying people need to be reborn with the knowledge of a requirement for integrity, as individuals.
I do think, combined with some tax cuts and such, we COULD turn things around. The truth is, we don’t want to. We don’t want to give up our entertainments. We don’t want to give up our decadent lifestyle. I do think if we could do so we could attain things beyond any imagination.
There will always be evils in civilization. We’re dealing with humanity. Humans can be quite evil. Civilization is negatively impacted.
We do our best to combat it. And there are bright spots as well. We have people living longer healthier lives. We still have a standard of living that is better than that of much of the world.
There is plenty to be happy about right now.
We have Trump rolling back literally decades of Leftist encroachment. He will succeed. Pence will follow along behind. We may even get a third player after him.
As this takes place, much of the SCOTUS will be appointed by our team. Federal judges will shift back to the right via replacement appointments.
The economy will thrive as it did under Reagan.
Our border will be under control for the first time in 40 years.
Our military is being rebuilt.
Trump plans on focusing on the inner cities and bringing everyone on board the fruitful Capitalist triumph train.
We have a lot to be thankful for.
All good things come from God, and our nation is headed in a very good direction.
He has not forsaken us. Why should I be any different.