Where does the U.S. stand?

[Yellow Jacket]

About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover 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 every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;

2. From spiritual faith to great courage;

3. From courage to liberty;

4. From liberty to abundance;

5. From abundance to complacency;

6. From complacency to apathy;

7. From apathy to dependence;

8. From dependence back into bondage "

I wonder, at what stage do you think the United States has arrived?

[rksaw]

My guess: either 6 or 7

[glwilson]

Bob; an interesting post to read. Thanks for posting it.

I have to admit it is getting to an interesting point again in our country/world.

Oddly enough though; in reading historical news reports; I think one can find several points throughout our country's history where it was thought/felt we were already at stages 5 thru 8, thus I remain reserved in guessing at what point we are.

[Cajunrider]

Between 6 and 7. Great post....

[traveler]

unfortunatly , I think our great nation is right around "5" . and soon to be on a liberal fast track to # 8. :'( ???

When a presidential election typically gets out 30% to 40% of the electorate,and we have millions looking for government handouts,I'd say a very large number of people in this country are smack in the middle of #7.

[schoeney]

Whatever stage we are in right now is not a good one.

Trying to bail out every weak entity (banks, insurance companies, automakers,etc) is the wrong approach. Good money after bad. We need to let the weak fail and the healthy get stronger so only the strong survive....they will lead us (or spend us) out of this mess. Loaning money to the weak hurts the strong and will continue to pull everyone down and delay a recovery.

Whether we like it or not the rich healthy corporations are the key to recovery.....if they don't spend money we can't make it. If we don't make it we don't consume as much to keep the merry go round going. Loaning the weak causes the strong into hybernation (why would the strong spend money while the government is bailing out their competitors they work so hard to beat?)...we need the strong awake + active.

Most of us don't realize that outside of some banks and the automotive industry that most American corporations are very healthy. The media did not share that during the election. Now that they got their guy elected you will start to hear more about what was already there!

Keep in mind that just because a company lays off people does not mean they are not healthy....in many cases they are just trying to stay healthy.

The stock market is way undervalued....those with cash should buy, buy, buy!

I expect the Messiah's advisors to give him some economy 101 classes (if they haven't already) and then you will see his campaign promises (entitlements) fall by the wayside. How can you grow government when the tax revenues are falling like a safe in space?

Kind of like us buying a big new house even though our paycheck has been cut by 30% and we have no money in the bank.

Can't redistribute the wealth if there isn't any.

If he cuts the military then we got bigger problems than money. Note the post election moves by Russia...

Damn....sorry about the rant. I get carried away and showing my impatience with Congress.

[skyhookman]

I would have to say around, 6 & 7 mark, way to far down. I believe were on the down hill drag of a muddy slope. gone, gone, gone, like a 59- cat, ain't never comeing back.