Similarities Between the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and the United States

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa061599.htm ^

[kidd]

Hogwash.

Liberal America-hating hogwash.

The United States is no where nears a decline and fall like Rome.

We have small blips in the economy. A blip is not a fall. A blip is not a decline. The only thing in our history that came close to an economic collapse was the Great Depression and the decision to use socialism to fix it. Yet we endured. The Great Depression was nothing even close to a Somalian-type disaster. And we have learned a lesson from the Great Depression have many safeguards in place.

We have the greatest military in world history. Nothing on this planet comes even close. There are concerns that enemies may have WMD, but this fear is also overblown. If an enemy uses some on a population center, then what can they do next. We are virtually un-invadable, at least by conventional means. We can be hurt, but we cannot be occupied.

Complacency? Decadence? Of course it exists. And its getting worse. But captitalism and conservatism will always keep these in check. Despite rampant liberalism, we are the most conservative country in the world. And the popularity of the Free Republic is evidence that liberalism doesn't have the stranglehold that some think that it might.

We are a wealthy nation. And as a wealthy nation, we can afford to pay for certain safeguards such as consumer protection and certain environmental safeguards. Yes, I know that these have become excessive lately, but certain basic safeguards are necessary to maintain our longterm health.

We have the most diverse population possible, yet we have relatively minor conflicts between races/religions. We had a war between Northern and Southern attitudes. We survived that. Our pride is nation-wide. Europe (including Rome), on the other hand, is not so well behaved. Countries that are the size of small States have been at each others throats countless times. Their pride (or whats left of it) is concentrated in relatively small groups, thus they clash frequently. We have the geographical benefit of being phyically separated from the misbehaving children of Europe (and every 30 years or so, we go over there and hand out some spankings and make them sit in the corner).

We are vigilant. We do not appease. And we have the greatest Constitution ever written. We are not in decline.

[SunkenCiv]

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