- Joined
- Sep 3, 2011
- Messages
- 34,817
- Reaction score
- 18,576
- Location
- Look to your right... I'm that guy.
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Centrist
Let's see.
Allowing influence from the outside. Check!
Usurper in office. Check
Decadence Check!
Moral decay Check!
Economic problems Check!
Philosophical divisions Check!
Looking pretty bad for us.
All the others I'll debate, but how is there a usurper in office?
You're right, that's giving him too much credit.
How about *unqualified absolutist* who goes beyond his legal authority.
Let's see.
Allowing influence from the outside. Check!
Usurper in office. Check
Decadence Check!
Moral decay Check!
Economic problems Check!
Philosophical divisions Check!
Looking pretty bad for us.
Moral decay? Rome was far more immoral during its most successful period.
Rome fell because of the military costs of maintaining its empire. Most great empires fall due to out of control defense spending.
Really hate the man, don't ya?
Allowing influence from the outside. Check! Do you mean the influence of the new religion of Christianity on established society? Many historians agree that though there may not be established causation, there is certainly correlation between the expansion of the new faith with the decrease in power of the Roman Empire's institutions.
Usurper in office. Check! Don't know much Roman history obviously
Decadence Check! Don't know much American history, obviously
Moral decay Check! (see previous)
Economic problems Check! (see previous)
Philosophical divisions Check! On this point we can agree but I seem to remember something called the "War of Northern Aggression" or as most folks know it - The Civil War. Then there was the Jim Crow era, never mind the bigotry shown against first the Irish, then the Italians and of course those of the Jewish faith. Or in other words - there have always been philosophical divisions in this nation as in every other nation, the difference comes with the ability for those formerly ignored to now get their message, their thoughts, out to wider audiences.
Looking pretty bad for us. Which "us" would you be thinking about? Middle and old-aged white folks who fear changing demographics of this nation, I think is your "us" but I can't be sure.
You're right, that's giving him too much credit.
How about *unqualified absolutist* who goes beyond his legal authority.
You're right, that's giving him too much credit.
How about *unqualified absolutist* who goes beyond his legal authority.
Rome fell because its citizens became a culture that felt entitled to oppulance. The people became weak celf centered and spoiled much like the libs in US society.
The fall of Rome equals US today?
You hear this a lot. People pointing out the poarallels between the US today and the fall of the Roman empire. Implying, of course, that we are on the downslope of our phase as a country.
Do you believe this is true? If so, why? If not, why not?
Decay happens gradually.
Obama rate of issuing executive orders is one of the lowest of any president in a hundred years:
Its actually quite remarkable there are so few considering the financial crisis and great recession. This whole "imperial presidency" crap is nothing but a right wing fantasy. Moreover, its hypocritical because you guys certainly were not complaining when Bush and Reagan issued all their executive orders and signing statements.
The Executive branch is meant to *enforce* not change laws. It's not how many it's the legality of the ones he has used.
Rome's citizenry was as far from liberalism as you can get. The country had a state religion, no regard of civil liberties or individual rights, and out of control defense spending due to the costs of maintaing empire. You act like Rome had this bunch of liberal hippies out protesting the treatment of slaves or how Rome waged war.
The fall of Rome equals US today?
You hear this a lot. People pointing out the poarallels between the US today and the fall of the Roman empire. Implying, of course, that we are on the downslope of our phase as a country.
Do you believe this is true? If so, why? If not, why not?
The main reason of the fall of the Roman Empire was more sinister and historians are beginning to realize this. The Roman Empire had a massive population decline of "true Romans" and especially among the powerful elite. This caused massive problems over many many decades and even centuries. The reason was rather simple... lead poisoning.
Roman water systems were built with lead pipes and there was a belief among the upper classes that lead was good for you. What we know today is it is far from it and causes things like insanity and sterility.
This eventually lead to a weak Empire and hence its downfall.
The fall of Rome equals US today?
You hear this a lot. People pointing out the poarallels between the US today and the fall of the Roman empire. Implying, of course, that we are on the downslope of our phase as a country.
Do you believe this is true? If so, why? If not, why not?
The main reason of the fall of the Roman Empire was more sinister and historians are beginning to realize this. The Roman Empire had a massive population decline of "true Romans" and especially among the powerful elite. This caused massive problems over many many decades and even centuries. The reason was rather simple... lead poisoning.
Roman water systems were built with lead pipes and there was a belief among the upper classes that lead was good for you. What we know today is it is far from it and causes things like insanity and sterility.
This eventually lead to a weak Empire and hence its downfall.
Rome fell because its citizens became a culture that felt entitled to oppulance. The people became weak celf centered and spoiled much like the libs in US society.
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