Get over it. No empire lasts forever, not even close. The closest anyone's come to that so far, are the Chinese, and we all saw what happened to them; they built a huge, useless wall and turned to communism. Of course, one must respect the Chinese, as they continue to use chopsticks, as they have for thousands of years, in full knowledge of the technicological wonder that is The Fork. THAT's devotion. But to my larger point: America is on the short train to the long haul of empire-dom; at least, that's what we're telling ourselves; and we're wrong.
What we are advertising as a humanitarian "crusade" (ooh, bad choice of words, mister president!) appears to most of the world as the hopeless flailing of a crumbling superpower in it's death throes. Instead of shoring up our interests and spending a 10 trillion dollar surplus on something helpful, like the national debt, or our faltering medicare or social security programs, our fine Emperor aped Caesar and doled out just enough money for the masses to buy a bushel of grain and still have enough left over for a trip to the Colosseum for a Football game. (check my history on that one, the similarities are uncanny) Actually, looking at the rise and fall of Rome, one of the more successful empires in history, as compared to that of the United States; one notices an unsettling number of corresponding trends.
One has to wonder: What lead to the fall of the Roman Empire? Well, of course, there were a myraid of causes, but there were a few in particular that contributed most heavily, let's see if anyone can draw parallels between these events in Roman history, and current ado in domestic affairs.
1. A disproportionate ratio of slaves and foreign political prisoners lead to colossal unemployment and widespread poverty.
2. The widening gulf between the mass populace and the aristocratic elite led to mounting animosity between the rich and poor.
3. To pacify the multitide, Emperors offered paltry gifts and put on sporting events to deflect and distract.
4. Emperors designated specific ethnic and religious groups as scapegoats for the Empire's failings.
5. An ambitious expansionist agenda spread Rome's mighty armies too thinly across the world stage, and civilian uprisings became the order of the day.
6. Incestuous marriages based on aristocratic connections depleted the genetic diversity of the elite, and subsequently, devistated the health of the ruling party.
7. Rampant debauchery and corruption compromised the authority of the Emperors, and thus, the integrity of the state in the eyes of the public.
Sound familiar? If we are to continue down our current path of destruction and defiance of international co-operation, we're well on our way to join Agustus and Trajen; in a morgue.
Besides, Everyone knows that China's the new Superpower anyway. Bush's plans to reshape the middle east aren't fooling anybody. Try to count the number of things that you own that are made in China, then tell me who's really running the show. Not that it's all bad, I love chinese food!
Well, that's enough for me.
-His Royal Dude-ness
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You're just jealous because you don't know the proper conduct of chopsticks.
Eau Contrair, monfraire: I own my own special set. *raspberry*
-His Royal Dude-ness
China owns a lot of our debt. We have had to borrow an enormous amount of money for the futile efforts in Iraq.
You ought to read a book called "Rome, Inc. : The Rise and Fall of the First Multinational Corporation" by Stanley Bing .
The American government is more of a global corporation than an empire to me. The majority of people in the adminstration, for example have huge connections to powerful corporations. The big players in industry and government are constantly switching seats with each other. And it is the corporations who selects the candidates which most of the public votes for -- by funding the candidates' media campaigns on both sides that they don't mind being in power.
Citizen Press Revolution
What you're saying is, that China is going to take over the world?
I must agree with you, this whole Military-Industrial Complex thing was kind of cute at first, even a little endearing, but it's not funny any more. I'm thinking we need to change the name of the country, "The United States of America" just doesn't capture that sweet capitolist spirit like it used to. Perhaps "The Federal Corporation of America"?
-His Royal Dude-ness
If there is going to be a new superpower, China is the one whose star is rising. Japan could possibly compete. The EU I am not decided about. China, however, is extremely ambitious.
President Eisenhower, in his closing remarks as a president, warned the public about the Military-Industrial Complex, but no one listened. It reminds me of the oracle at Troy who could see the future but was doomed that no one would ever listen to her warnings.
The Federal Corporation of America sounds just about right to me.
Citizen Press Revolution
Yes, America is making some bad decisions, but we are not about to fall. I give us at least another 100 to 200 years, before a crazy change in power happens. For example, we go from being a democracy, to being a dictatorship.
Though if we continue to strench our miltary reserves and other military too far. We will be open to a large attack from a foreign nation.
A funny thought. With our continued activeness in world politics and games, we could single-handedly start WWIII. But, that will strengthen our economy though. As seen in WWII, our economy was bad, then a war came along, and we were a booming coutry again. Though the GI Bill kind of helped us not slump into depression again.