decay roman empire and today

1. The Christian church was the official religion and no others were permitted

2. The church was a agency of the imperial government, administering all social services and under the control of the government

3. The emperor (bush) was semi-divine and claimed that his power was granted to him by God

4. Military power was in the hands of Germans (neocons)

5. Town life had decayed, and commerce was dwindling because of the lack of a middle class.

6. With the decay of cities, formal education, particularly a knowledge of the Greek language, vanished in the western empire except among clerics and wealthy aristocrats

7. Roads and bridges were decaying, sea traffic was endangered by pirates, and communications were ever more difficult.

8. Power in the countryside was in the hands of great landowners living in fortified villas and surrounded by a peasantry dependent upon them for protection, law and order, and economic aid.

9. The state was no longer able to protect its frontiers or maintain civil order, and the Pax Romana had vanished.

TV to Americans today is what the Coliseum was to the Romans -- pure escapism.

But it's the destruction of the middle class which is going to be the real problem.

This theme of decline is valid, but Rome is a poor example. All great powers become minor powers, including many powers a lot more similar to the US than ancient Rome was. The neocons aren't foreigners, for God's sake! They're rotten Americans, but not foreigners.

Let's mix this up some. How come nobody ever compares us to the Hapsburgs? Or the Maya?

Anyway, America is sui generis--we are faltering, as all great powers must, but in our own way. For instance, we are not going to be over-run by anyone unless Canada or Mexico want to rise to the task.

the bushgang's ties to the Saudis? The Saudis are not foreigners?

We are being overrun in the modern multinational manner, by foreign investors who have our "leaders" in their pockets.

1. The Christian church was the official religion and no others were permitted

...not true today...

2. The church was a agency of the imperial government, administering all social services and under the control of the government

...still not true, people complain as much about freedom FOR religion as freedom FROM it...

3. The emperor (bush) was semi-divine and claimed that his power was granted to him by God

...whatever, he'll be out in 6 months...

4. Military power was in the hands of Germans (neocons)

...germans=neocons? don't see the connection, in the hands of the germans as in those were the mercs, not that they planned wars and ran pr campaigns...

5. Town life had decayed, and commerce was dwindling because of the lack of a middle class.

...middle class isn't as strong as it was in the past, but nothing like roman times, commerce is strong (relatively) today...

6. With the decay of cities, formal education, particularly a knowledge of the Greek language, vanished in the western empire except among clerics and wealthy aristocrats

...bullshit, 4000 colleges/universities in US, 50% of people get degrees, public education to all that want it (in fact, required or you get truancy officers on your ass)...

7. Roads and bridges were decaying, sea traffic was endangered by pirates, and communications were ever more difficult.

...uh, internet, need i say more? can get around the world in less than a day by air...

8. Power in the countryside was in the hands of great landowners living in fortified villas and surrounded by a peasantry dependent upon them for protection, law and order, and economic aid.

...not even going to comment on this crap...

9. The state was no longer able to protect its frontiers or maintain civil order, and the Pax Romana had vanished.

...not true, civil order is maintained (tho more protesting could be good), and Pax Americana in economic dominance is still going strong...

?