Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professer at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2000 years prior:"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A demoncracy will continue to exist up untill the time that voters descover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that everydemocracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship. " the average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history always progressed throuigh the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith. From spiritual faith to great courage. From great courage to liberty. From liberty to abundance. From abundance to complacency. from complacency to apathy. From apathy to dependence. From dependence back into bondage." Is this the Obituary of the good old USA??? I sure hope not but it sure looks like thats the way we are heading.

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

Alexander Fraser Tytler (with a "t") lived from 1747 to 1813. Dating his remarks as 1887 is a hundred years too late. Considering that modern democracies began late in the late 1700s (1776 for USA; 1787 for France, etc.), Mr. Tytler could hardly have had time to objectively size up how things were even going for democracies, let alone how they would turn out. He had an antagonistic attitude towards the only democracy whose decline he could really have analyzed; ancient Greece. But the Greeks didn't have the US Constitution, which ought to be the last book of the Bible. Tytler also famously said, "All government is essentially of the nature of a monarchy," and he included democracy in that sweeping assessment. In the prime of his life he witnessed his beloved English monarchy get its butt kicked by the upstart American democracy; I think we can chalk up his comments to that of a sore loser. Certainly today we have long-term debt issues, but thinking that Mr. Tytler has or had anything of value to contribute to the discussion is not plausible.

subroto mukerji Loc: New Delhi, INDIA

Any serious student of history would concede that all civilisations follow a cyclic path, rising and flourishing for a time before degenerating into chaos born of overabundance, complacency, greed and corruption. One only has to look at the Fertile Crescent -- the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the so-called 'Cradle of Civilisation" -- to appreciate the truth of this. So too any major civilisation you care to name, including the famous Greek and Roman ones. A study of China's history is also a great way to understand this truth of this, especially the Post-Meiji Restoration era through Mao Tse Tung to the present day.
Arnold Toynbee has a lot to say on the subject('A Study of History'), but I don't know whether anyone reads his books nowadays.
I join Hal in his apprehension that the Land of the Brave and the Free, overfed and complacent, may be presently in the early stages of its final tailspin into chaos and ultimate eclipse by hungry, desperate and ruthless peoples.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Much in the same way as you LiamRowan. You would rather chew the fat than taste the meat. I for one could care who wrote those words or when. Thinking upon the words alone will make you wise.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

You will be the sore looser theres a lot of truth in that, but when the truth hurts the loosers strikes out just as you did. I hope im wrong but all the signs are there. Wake up before its too late.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I perceive that many in the U.S. sense that what you presented is actually looming in the future. I know that what I perceive of the Democratics now in power is that they are seeking to be the bondagers of the (near?) future and I believe that is why many are rushing to buy firearms while they still can

tell2t

The man was Scottish so that 'beloved English Monarchy,' is way off. Ask any Scot why?

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I have greater faith in the American public than most. We have a system that has a built in revolution that is carried out either every 2 years, 4 years or six.

As for the debt, just think 8 years of 4% growth and it is gone!

As for taxation the lowest since WWII.

Our problem seems to be the unequal distribution of wealth to the wealthiest at the expense of everyone else.

Maybe that should be addressed in a reasonable fashion.

But, then again you right wingers will come to the defense of your wealthy patrons as your own peril because the wealthy will never come to your defense!

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

ole sarg
There is no revolution when the same "give away" clowns are reelected; debt will never go away as long as the clowns are in office as that is what gets them reelected; tax rates may be a bit lower but much more is taxed today than ever before; and it is interesting that you want to take away wealth from someone else and give to someone who hasn't earned it in any way. I'm not wealthy and have no wealthy patron; I worked hard for 35 years for what little I have and I'll be derned if I think anyone else has a claim on it.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Just a question, how does the Japanese Post-Meiji Restoration era fit in to China's history?

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Why do you put blame on the wealthy? Did they stick a gun in your back and steal your money? This class envy promoted by the current administration is dangerous.

subroto mukerji Loc: New Delhi, INDIA

Indirectly, letmedance. While the Japanese successfully initiated reforms, the Chinese tried and failed. This set in motion a series of events and a burning desire among the masses to emulate the Japanese successes, a trend that later facilitated Mao's ability to lead the Chinese people out of feudalism into a more modern era, albeit at tremendous cost to the old way of life and almost irreversible damage to ancient cultural institutions. The Chinese think in terms of centuries and millennia, unlike the West, so for them (as perhaps appreciated by some western scholars), reform, revolution and democracy is a 'work in progress'. That this is a cyclic process I have no doubts whatsoever. Sixty years ago, China and India were roughly at par. Today, India is way behind. The less said of 'democracy' in India, the better...I'm not dancing for joy, either.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Thank you

Old Sarge Loc: Moore, OK

Again! "Ole sarg" Not to be confused with "Old Sarge."

DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

On a positive note .... you and I will be dead when and if it happens ..... actually ... you will not even be a memory ... so .... don"t worry .... its not your problem