Is the U.S. exhibiting signs of decline similar to what was seen in the Roman empire?

Question

Major symptoms of Rome's decline were (1) lack of production of hard goods, (2) transition to a service-based economy, (3) inability of political factions to compromise, (4) Roman citizens looking to the goverment for largesse, and (5) transition of the military to a volunteer-based army coupled with the use of mercenaries to maintain military strength. These same characteristics seem to be arising in the U.S. as the years go by.

Answer 1

Hmmm, I wouldn't say we are in the late stages of decline such as the traditional end of the Western Empire in the 5th century. If I had to make a comparison to Rome I would say we are in their Late Republican Period, just before the rise of Caesar and the Principate. I don't think the current administration is trying to turn the government of this country into a rule of one, but I do think they are inadvertently laying the foundation for it. I have heard far to many people say that, "We owe our loyalty and support to the president", rather than Congress and our country. That is but one example of a changing attitude amongst the masses and the governmental system. It won't be too long(in a historical sense, say the next 100 years) before the fear of the terrorists(barbarians in the Rome metaphor) give rise to the leadership of one. It will seem like a good thing at first but eventually despots and the like will come into power. It is unfortunately a cycle that repeats itself over and over (Rome wasn't the first, look at the Athenian Empire of the Late 5th cent BCE and less well documented examples exist as well) and in all of human history we haven't figured out a way to counter this seemingly inescapable inevibility of political evolution. A possible answer may be to curtail the rising power of the executive branch but to do that we would have to get a president who would be willing to initiate that sort of change, and that sort of individual is exceedingly rare. I am speaking in generalizations here, so I am sure there are plenty of holes, but the trend is evident and seemingly preordained.

Answer 2

lol first we have to be like Rome to go through a decline like them lol 1)the Romans never produced it's own hard goods it imported every thing 2)Rome was always a service-based economy since it didn't produce it's own goods 3)name a time when the roman hierarchy got along lol4) I'll give u that one 5) the roman army always used mercenary troops before it sent in it's legions it is a smart practice and a volunteer army did nothing but boost the army since it made u a roman citizen when u got out and gave u land all this was done during the height of the roman empire i don't know where u get all this as the decline of the roman empire lol the USA is nothing like the roman empire and i wish people would stop compareing them with us

Answer 3

Well the Presidents dad started this when he was in office.
I shouldn't say started, as I am sure that there were a few others like Regan who broke the air traffic controllers union.
But Bush Sr was always talking about a new world order.
It seems that they want a one world economy and government.
So how does one do this? Easy, You dabble in everyone else's affairs ship jobs out and depress the economy at home.
We are to powerful of a Nation so to do this you have to bring our way of living down to the standards of a third world country.
Once people have lost everything they are easier to control.
Think about it. One of the first things that the politicians did was to stop backing our paper money with gold.
Its just printed on a as needed basis now.
You start combining all these things with your question and the answer is a emphatic yes.
It will not be long before the whole way of life we are accustomed to will come crashing down.
Its a damn shame that our leaders have usurped and abused power and allowed this to come to pass.

Answer 4

It's silly to blame George W. Bush for the problems that the United States are experiencing today. Look back to WWI and WWII for the start of the external problems. The 20th Century has been aptly named the American century because of our octopuss like tentacles starting to spread into every continents business. This was not the result of George Bush. One needs to really point the fingers at men like Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon before they can ever consider blaming this on George Bush.

Our duplicitous and deceatful actions in the middle east began in the 1950s with the active use of the CIA to incite revolutions that would put US backed leaders in power.

The men that Saddam Hussein overthrew in the 1970s was a CIA backed dictator. The shah of Iran prior to the Iranian revolution in the late 70s (79 i think) was a horrendous authoritarian ruler that symbolized American interference in the Islamic World. The authoritarian Us backed dictator of Cuba prior to Castro's reign is another example. General Pinoche in Chile...friend of the US.

So please, despite your dislike of the current president (of whom I am also disgusted), put the blame in the correct places, please.

And stop saying George W. Bush is a Nazi...you wouldn't be writing any of this if he were indeed a Nazi or Fascist.

Have a good day.

Answer 5

You swung and ignored companion. After Julius Caesar got here to potential the Roman Senate had little or no potential and that continued decrease than the subsequent emperors. Civil conflict and the shortcoming of a written shape did extra to deliver down the Roman Empire then any of the motives you pointed out. keep some thing in innovations too, it lasted for extremely virtually twenty- years.

Answer 6

Absolutely. When Pres. Eisenhower got out of office, he warned us against "military-industrial complexes" and standing armies because they would start the decline of the US. I'm guessing China would be the next super-power. Americans today are arrogant and feel invincible. We shouldn't forget how easily the Nazi, French, British, Dutch, and Japanese empires fell.

"It is nowhere written that the American empire would go on forever."

Answer 7

You've given a very good argument for answering yes. Other elements which I believe are at work are (1) acceptance of immorality in many areas of life and (2) an educational system which does not teach strong ethical work values or aid children in reaching a mature outlook on life.

Answer 8

First of all ,congratulations on your excellent question.We must agree with your opinion ,although history will need some time to judge this.I am not American ,I am Greek.I think the whole world is heading to a decline.Lack of morals , lack of classical education that teaches the value not of money but the eternal value of character .And do not forget..Democracy without education is hypocrisy without limitation.

Answer 9

Maybe, but if you think about it, the Roman Empire is still strong as ever and has not really declined in some ways. It is still controlling most parts of the world thru the Vatican.

Answer 10

Bread and circuses. Invasion by barbarian peoples due to inability to secure borders. I would have to say yes. It is not too late to change it.