Is this what it was like before Rome fell?
There are a number of theories posited for the fall of Rome. One could also argue Rome never fell, it simply adapted to change. But among the theories, the common themes are: decadence, financial woes, military problems and Christianity.
Sound vaguely familiar?
The Iraq war cost this country on so many different levels. The human toll alone is staggering. While the conflict helped line the pockets of companies such as Halliburton, the cost was astronomical to the U.S. Government. As of February of 2010, a whopping $704 trillion was spent. That number hasn't stopped rising as of this writing.
The Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008. The law provided $700 billion to bailout our financial system in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Even conservatives argued the solution to a crisis created by excess credit wasn't MORE credit.
Our government and spiritual leaders are frequently caught red-handed spending tax payer dollars inappropriately or embroiled in tawdry scandals. Republicans rail against Health Care Reform and insist the American public should pay their own medical costs. However, none of them are giving up their own benefits … paid for by our tax dollars.
Further still, they want to extend huge tax breaks to the country's wealthiest, those making over $250,000 annually. The bulk of the nation's tax burden would rest on the shoulders of the rapidly shrinking middle class. With all this talk of saving the middle class, it seems curious that Republicans seem hell bent on widening the chasm between the haves and have nots. We may have added an extra party to our political system, but it would appear rich and poor will be the only classes to survive this brave new world.
We've raised a generation of children who believe jobs and success are their birthright. Since everyone is a winner, they don't need to work to succeed. They just sit and play video games, mark time in our rapidly declining education system and wait for good fortune to be handed to them. They've been taught no work ethic. Yet we're all scratching our heads as to why today's youth seem so disillusioned.
Our country has never been more divided. Much of that division is a result of far right conservative Christians who want to ignore the fact that church and state are separate by law. They also seem to forget this country was founded largely so the people could worship as they pleased.
The far right wants to take on the role of moral police. They validate themselves by the Bible they hold so dear, even though many of them haven't even read it. The far right won't be happy until they have converted everyone, by force it would seem, to Christianity. Once again, they don't want to talk about the fact Christianity is based on an amalgam of Pagan traditions. They also don't want anyone to know that most major religions have the same basic message at their core.
No one expects the far right to adopt or even like the views of other religions or cultures. Yet they march on like thugs in Jack boots, with the rest of us running a few steps ahead of their righteous bayonets. History has shown this tactic generally backfires spectacularly on the aggressor.
The United States is no longer united. Deep schisms in politics, religion and culture cut us to the quick. What happened to live an let live?
Decadence, failing finances, military failures and forced faith. We're swirling in a sickening vortex. Colonies were formed and a war fought to form a nation of live and let live over a century ago. Those pioneers came to this country seeking to worship and live as they pleased, away from the crushing thumb of tyranny.
Will the United States fall? As we know it, perhaps it already has. The more important question is are we in a period of decline or adaptation? Will we return to live and let live or will we simply fall away to smaller pieces?
