Posted on 03/10/2010 12:06:55 AM PST by SmokingJoe
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- "One of the disturbing facts of history is that so many civilizations collapse," warns anthropologist Jared Diamond in "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed." Many "civilizations share a sharp curve of decline. Indeed, a society's demise may begin only a decade or two after it reaches its peak population, wealth and power."
Now, Harvard's Niall Ferguson, one of the world's leading financial historians, echoes Diamond's warning: "Imperial collapse may come much more suddenly than many historians imagine. A combination of fiscal deficits and military overstretch suggests that the United States may be the next empire on the precipice." Yes, America is on the edge.
Dismiss his warning at your peril. Everything you learned, everything you believe and everything driving our political leaders is based on a misleading, outdated theory of history. The American Empire is at the edge of a dangerous precipice, at risk of a sudden, rapid collapse.
Ferguson is brilliant, prolific and contrarian. His works include the recent "Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World;" "The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World;" "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of The American Empire;" and "The War of the World," a survey of the "savagery of the 20th century" where he highlights a profound "paradox that, though the 20th century was 'so bloody,' it was also 'a time of unparalleled progress.'"
Why? Throughout history imperial leaders inevitably emerge and drive their nations into wars for greater glory and "economic progress," while inevitably leading their nation into collapse. And that happens suddenly and swiftly, within "a decade or two."
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
We are being invaded by tens of millions of illegal immigrants. Europe is being invaded by tens of millions of Muslims. All without firing a shot.
Hmmmm, nothing about the effects of the concentration of power in the hands of a relative few. Nothing about the systemic looting of private capital to enrich a relative few while enslaving a large number. Nothing about policies implemented to turn a nation of independent, optimistic, hard working people into a mass of dependent sheep. Nothing about dishonesty and fraud run amok. Nothing about the loss of morality, the refusal to see the difference between right and wrong.
Yeah, I’ve got thoughts. When it comes to the people who have sold this country down a river for their gain in the here and now, coupled with the virtual enslavement of a once proud people, my thoughts are not pleasant ones.
We are being invaded by tens of millions of illegal immigrants. Europe is being invaded by tens of millions of Muslims. All without firing a shot.
“Thoughts?”
Yeah, empires come and go. The alleged American empire is no different.
I do agree with you, but I'll point out that it's far easier to tear something down than to build something up.
Imperial? BS, Ferguson. Don’t mistake protecting oneself for imperialism. Other than that, he is usually spot on.
Global power = wealth. Wealth attracts freeloaders. Freeloaders attract big government socialists to promise them government goodies in return for their votes. Socialists come to power. Freeloaders take control of the government and vote themselves unlimited access to other people’s money. Goodbye wealth. Goodbye global power.
We’re watching it right before our very eyes. America’s last chance is to vote out the freeloaders and the socialists who champion them. 2010 will say a lot about how fast this nation declines.
Vague generalities are pointless.
I can't do any better than my intro to -America Held Hostage--:
You know there were warning signs...
I kept telling people when Bill Clinton slithered in to office, and clung to it, despite all the scandals, and Impeachment itself-- “He's just a symptom. Like a fever is of a disease- there's something wrong with America.”
Like Popular Culture- look at the magazines-- I call it “thugs & jugs,” or “which Pop Tart is popping out whose baby this week?”
Or Katrina- ever seen so many people milling around with their hands out, when they should have been helping themselves?
We did it to ourselves, and The New, Improved Black Jesus is merely a symptom.
All civilizations have a shelf life- once enough citizens figure out that by electing the “right” representatives, they can use the power of the government to pick the pockets of others,
...it's all over, except for the details.
Well, we're in the “details,” now.
Meanwhile, I have to figure out what Miss Emily and I do with what's left of our lives, and bush hog her Mom's old place in the country, because City Life isn't going to be worth living from here on out.
I'll catch you all later...
...maybe...
I believe this will be the case if our nation continues to push God away. I believe this is atthe root of all of our issues.
What happen to God, Family and country? Yes it is still around. However, the atheists, the anti-family, the absolute disrespect to the U.S. Constitution, our bill of rights, borders, language and culture seem to be slowly dissolving.
We can either get back to what made us a great nation, or go back to what our founders were trying to escape.
Even more sadly and terribly uncalled for, it can be corrected now.
Goobermint is out of control and has been. Time to cull the herd. Time to stop the handouts. Time to bury the corrupt.
So is this the $20 version of saying "It's Bush's Fault"?
Actually, I think it comes closer to acknowledging Bush's prescience.
Faced with an assault by an implacable and nebulous enemy, Bush recognized that the U.S. was on the verge of decline, in large part due to economic factors set in place by Democrat legislation which drew from public coffers for the purpose of distributing benefits (a benefit, in governmentese, is the larval version of an entitlement).
He recognized that the correlation of forces could not continue to the level of advantage the U.S. had, but necessarily would decline. That created an urgency to act, which he manned up to do.
Sure, it became unpopular -- largely because the Democrats need history to reflect the ascendance of their ideas, which ultimately it will not do.
Was there a little spin on the info put to the public to garner support for the war? Probably. But democracies generally will not invest blood and fortune in pre-emptive wars, even when they need to be fought.
Even 0 has recognized the importance of settling some version of democratic government in the region. Bush was smart enough to get the Iraq one mostly finished, so that the one generally supported by Democrats (because they thought it the most minor and ultimately "walk-awayable" would remain.
America’s last chance is to vote out the freeloaders and the socialists who champion them. 2010 will say a lot about how fast this nation declines.<<<<
2010 no doubt is the watershed moment! They know it we know it
They will fast track as much socialism as they can in the next 6 months. There will be an attept to tip all close mid term elections and the people are going to be raging!!
2011 the economy completely tanks. I fear it is going to get real ugly real fast!!
I concur.
IMHO, the only thing holding the US back from catastrophe is probably a slim belt of faithful believers remaining in fellowship with Him, and simple grace for those not yet exposed to His Word.
Those who hate Him, probably won’t be influenced by catastrophe, but I fear in the near future, a catastrophe might enable some in other far off places to come to Him with less distraction or degenerate interruption by the unbelieving American sprawl.
“Global power = wealth. Wealth attracts freeloaders. Freeloaders attract big government socialists to promise them government goodies in return for their votes. Socialists come to power. Freeloaders take control of the government and vote themselves unlimited access to other people’s money. Goodbye wealth. Goodbye global power.”
Simplistic but correct.
Sorry, but I am one of those doom-sayers that expect that my grandchildren will not see the freedom and prosperity that we have experienced. When the government owes more money than exists then you know it has to fall in some way.
I’m not one for predictions but I think the economy will continue to weaken, then an event will happen which will allow the Powers That Be (whatever you call them) to establish even more power over us.
The world is governed by a small group of elites that have no interest in us except as a slave class to produce their toys. (It’s disconcerting when your bank financial advisor agrees with you).
The American Revolution threw off the chains of slavery imposed by Kings, tyrants, and despots. We have slowly, willingly put those chains back on.
If there will be freedom again it will come only if that world ruling class is destroyed. Of course it will be supplanted with someone else, it is the nature of man.
“Meanwhile, I have to figure out what Miss Emily and I do with what’s left of our lives, and bush hog her Mom’s old place in the country, because City Life isn’t going to be worth living from here on out.”
dittos that!
Just sold timber, bought a Kubota, cleaning up the place...
just in case!
Scary BTTT
Hate to rain on your parade, but just how much profit did GM make that year?
Or did they have to go begging to the guber'mint?
The truth is in the details.
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