Is America going the way of the Roman empire?

Answer 1

On May 2, 1903, Theodore Roosevelt remarked, "There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility."
Our smugness, arrogance, avarice, and lack of common decency is sure to drive us down the road to destruction, just as it did the great Greek and Roman empires. Just because we don't wear togas, or regurgitate as a compliment to our host, or participate in raucous orgies doesn't mean that we haven't lost our moral compass.
Our decadent society is without reproach, and is quickly decaying from within. When Howard Stern, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the conservative-biased media can run rip shod over common courtesy, respect and humility, our nation is weakened at its core.
When Congressmen (and women) can behave like little spoiled brats instead of public statesmen, our country is in serious remorse.
When our government lies to its people, ignores our U.S. Constitution, violates terms of agreements to which we are signatories, and attacks other sovereign nations for no justifiable reason, this country is about to crumble.
We have become an insane, uncontrollable society about to collapse from the burden of our own excess. -RKO- 08/04/07

Answer 2

Chances are, it very well could be.

It is a historical eventuality that is continually repeated.
All past, and most likely present, world powers follow the same 3-phased historical progression:

Phase 1: Ascension

The rise to might & prominence. Becoming a world leader militarily, economically, & politically.

Phase 2: Plateau

Being at the height of power and projecting your influences across the globe.

Phase 3: Decadence & Decline

While everyone is enjoying being "number 1" most of the nation, society, empire, (whatever) have forgotten all the hard work and effort to actually get to the point where they are now.

Life ("in general") is too comforting, values and hard work are forgotten........The nation gradually erodes/decays from within.....leaving it vulnerable to annihilation.


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So, Let's map out America's path.

Step 1 Ascension

The US was "officially" born on July 4 1776. Since that time it has grown and expanded its borders 10-fold.

Step 2 Plateau

After World War II (1945), the US was "on top". It was clearly the world's military, industrial, & economic leader without question.

Step 3 Decline

Has the US begun its down turn?

It is still the military world leader.

If not the top, it is in the top 2 or 3 economically along with Japan & Germany (ironic eh?).

Industry....has taken a down turn. As Americans have enjoyed the "fruits" of hard work and sweat over the course of its 1st 170 years of existence, generations of the last 50 years have become decadent and soft.

The "hard work" mind set has been replaced with the "hand out" mentality. Everyone....wants everything without any effort. Everything is owed and nothing is earned.

The strange thing is:
It is not wrong or bad to work hard and enjoy life's successes and privileges.

However, new generations are born into "this privilege" and they have never experienced 1st hand the sacrifices and toils of the previous generations.

They become ill-equipped to maintain the national status and privilege. Erosion in society sets in, and before anyone realizes it............the empire is lost!

The "decline" may be long and slow, but it may be inevitable.

Answer 3

Yes.

A nation or empire can do one of three things. It can grow, it can shrink, it can stagnate

The USA clearly is not growing. However it is also not stagnating as it is changing.

Jobs are going overseas. Not just the making of cheap clothing and shoes, but jobs that require a pretty good industrial base. Autos, TVs, computers, game units, to name some of the major manufactured items. Also, high tech jobs are going overseas or being done by foreigners more and more. Computer tech support, engineering and building design for example. The USA is losing its leadership role in the sciences with India and China graduating far more engineers every year than the USA does in 10 years.

In the meantime, more and more low tech jobs are spreading all over the USA based upon a change to a service economy. Jobs that do not even require a high school education. Food service workers, maids, lawn maintenance, day labor, janitors, etc. As China and India move away from stoop labor, the USA is moving more and more towards it with a rapidly increasing number of "bodies" doing menial labor.

China is going to surpass the USA as the #1 power in the world, perhaps as early as 2020, definitely by 2040. The USA will be like England is now. Looking back at its glory days and trying to figure out what to do with all the poorly educated immigrants that flooded in over the past 50 years.

Rome fell, and the USA is falling.....

Answer 4

It has been for some time. America was at it's peak at the end of World War 2, and has been going into a steady decline since then, lately though, I think that the decline has steepened. At this point, I don't honestly think the decline can be stopped, let alone reversed.

Why is it declining? There was a sound clip out there on the web, from a speech Theodore Roosevelt made back in 1911 I believe. If you find it, listen to it, you will find dangerous parallels between what he predicted and what is going on today. You will then have your answer. Good luck.

Answer 5

in basic terms thinkg is that Rome fell after being around many extra years than united statesa.. i'm attempting to locate a link to a checklist I examine some years in the past, yet not having lots success. It concentrated extra on the attitudes of the human beings throughout an enhance and fall of a civilization, and in fact summed it up as human beings being extra ambitious early on, then transforming into lazy and grasping with a blind eye to the genuine issues that count as they're pacified with the aid of many distractions and alter into complacent. Sorry cant be of extra help.

Answer 6

That's an insightful analogy Dave.

I would just like to add that America like Rome, seems to be overextending its Military reach. One thing that drained Rome was trying to maintain her large empire militarily. America has worldwide commitments against terrorism and also is a defense against rogue nations like North Korea, which means we have to hold a sizable troop presence in Asia.

The war in Iraq is believed to cost $12 billion a month. Just how long can America maintain these commitments at current pace with $$ and Military staffing levels?

Answer 7

Nope. Never will. Conditions aren't right for it. We have too many advantages that make it impossible.

Free speech, equality, etc.

Oh, we get a lot of whiners, but no one has enough suffering to actually make a revolt of the barbarians a reality and we are too powerful.

Angst isn't enough.

Answer 8

Nope
We have never gone into another country in modern times and declare it the US and planted our flag in victory.
We help people until we are attack.

I suggest you read some more about the Romans next time.

Answer 9

defiantly yes,

it will be destroyed first within, ant then it will go out words

Answer 10

Yes.