Rome was not built in a day, and it didn’t fall in a day.
Both processes took hundreds of years. But I’m sure there were many observers during the closing days of the fall who had missed the ample signs of decline along the way.
Equating the rise and decline of Rome with the ascent and fall of the United States is a familiar topic and not without merit.
Pay attention and one can see the parallels.
Our governments – Democrats and Republicans alike — have debased the nation’s money supply, accelerating the process when Richard Nixon took us off the gold standard in 1971.
Ancient Romans “clipped” coins, taking a little silver or gold off the edges to the point where the coins were unrecognizable. The government went along by substituting base metals for gold or silver in the coins.
The U.S. long ago went down that road, suspending convertibility of currency into gold or silver and taking the gold and silver out of coins, except for investment coins that trade not on their face value, but on the value of the underlying precious metal in them.
Roman rulers attempted to distract the masses from the problems with their bread and circuses (free food and entertainment).
Is that really any different than our current and past regimes with their “stimulus” handouts, various other government freebies, and a general bent toward dividing the populace against itself, lest it turn its attention to the failed leadership?
Romans and Americans alike experienced dramatic reduction in the standard living for the common folk, a vast and widening gap between rich and poor, and taxes verging on the confiscatory.
The story goes that many in the outer reaches of Rome’s empire welcomed invading barbarians because their take from the people was less than the Roman government’s taxation.
Erosion of our nation is evident by taking a trip to stores and being greeted by empty shelves or extremely limited supply where once there was an abundance of choices.
It’s evident at the checkout line where the prices rise steadily, or at the gasoline pump – same thing.
What is pathetically sad about all of this is how many governmental types, or sycophant economists, proclaim not to have been able to see this coming. Really?
You goose the money supply at an historic rate, keep interest rates at historic lows to encourage wild borrowing and speculation, yet you are surprised when the classic recipe for inflation – rising money supply and declining supply of products – produces price inflation?
The decline goes beyond rising prices and decreased availability of products.
Major cities, often under socialist-liberal leadership, are becoming hell holes of violence and general lawlessness.
Service levels almost everywhere are in the toilet. Teachers don’t want to venture to their classrooms and teach. Truckers don’t want to deliver goods. Sales people in stores run the other way if you make eye contact, indicating you might be seeking help.
People in various walks of life might show up at their jobs but they’re not going to put much effort into it.
Just the other day my son had his family stop at a failed link of a national fast food chain. Among the service gaffes were no utensils for the kids to eat their pancakes. The order was handed across the counter with no syrup for the pancakes. No chocolate milk for the kids. No soda for the adults. And on. And on. And on.
All should have been there, as ordered, but these items weren’t provided without extra requests. A guy stood for a time at the counter and was ignored. He was looking for napkins. My son eventually got some for him, too.
My mother is in a long-term care facility at which there are quarterly meetings with family members, ostensibly to address any concerns.
But bring up staff failures – ranging from consistently poor and inaccurate food trays, to failing to follow doctor’s orders and administer medication or tests – and the blanket defense is “no one’s perfect.”
We heard this ad nauseam a few weeks back.
Imagine that, no one’s perfect. We’re not seeking perfection, but rather some semblance of consistent competency.
We might as well howl at the moon.
And, mark my words, these situations, both in our personal life and in the national experience, will continue to worsen as failed leadership coddles the under-performers and tries to buy their allegiance, or vote, or both, with more handouts.
Eventually the pot is empty and there is no more money for handouts.
Can we dream of barbarians showing up at the gates to rescue us? Doubtful.
Sam Ross Jr's site 