"If we (USA) are Rome then Wall Street is our Coliseum."

Does anyone else see this country going the way of other great powers in history? We are beginning to believe we know better than anyone else. We have become the police, moral center and protecters of the world. Do we really think that people in Philippines, China, and Singapore are still living in grass huts and that we are the great white hope coming to save their world? These are now the people we are going to with our hat in hand asking for help. Russia is making deals with oil bearing countries that we are refusing to talk to. We have left the "American Century." We are now entering the "Asian Century."

What do you all think?

:hitout:

World empires last at best around 500 years. Most finish themselves from within via nonstop wars, governmental corruption, food shortages, and apathy amongst the citizenry.
I figure we're good for another 200 years. After that we'll be a rinky -dink third rate country. The rest of the world will love us tho. Not that we'll care.:lolhit:

PS The Egyptians' various dynasties lasted for over a millenia. They were a peacable sort tho, not overly given to warfare.

I don't think we'll be the dominant country in the world much longer, but I don't think that equates to being some crappy backwater nation or something. The British Empire has long gone, but they seem to be getting along just fine.

World empires last at best around 500 years. Most finish themselves from within via nonstop wars, governmental corruption, food shortages, and apathy amongst the citizenry.
I figure we're good for another 200 years. After that we'll be a rinky -dink third rate country. The rest of the world will love us tho. Not that we'll care.:lolhit:

PS The Egyptians' various dynasties lasted for over a millenia. They were a peacable sort tho, not overly given to warfare.

200 years is a stretch!

I don't think we'll be the dominant country in the world much longer, but I don't think that equates to being some crappy backwater nation or something. The British Empire has long gone, but they seem to be getting along just fine.

Never agrued that we would turn into a third world country. Just that out power is wearing thin.

"That's my stuff. Wait this isn't the YMCA."

"You can have one popscycle from the fridge."

"Two."

"Done."

"I still got it."

The British Empire has long gone, but they seem to be getting along just fine.

I don't know, Lionel.
I was reading a book about the Queen's Coronation (1953) and came across these astounding facts.
At that time, 4 million households had neither electricity or running water. Very very few had automobiles or even telephones. This was in 1953.

(Yet the Queen and Co spent the equivalent of $50 million of the taxpayers' money to stage her coronation).
Very recently a full one-third of the population did not have central heating.

WW II finished them. They have never recovered. They won, (with our help--LOTS of our help) but they are finished just the same. This isn't like being a third world backwater, tho. A few of them actually have bikes.

I don't know, Lionel.
I was reading a book about the Queen's Coronation (1953) and came across these astounding facts.
At that time, 4 million households had neither electricity or running water. Very very few had automobiles or even telephones. This was in 1953.

(Yet the Queen and Co spent the equivalent of $50 million of the taxpayers' money to stage her coronation).
Very recently a full one-third of the population did not have central heating.

WW II finished them. They have never recovered. They won, (with our help--LOTS of our help) but they are finished just the same. This isn't like being a third world backwater, tho. A few of them actually have bikes.

More and more the respect of the Monarcy is crumbling! Figure head or not that is not good.

-Feets

More and more the respect of the Monarcy is crumbling! Figure head or not that is not good.

-Feets

Why?
I mean, the Queen's a nice lady and all, but the idea of royalty.....

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFt.....no one's better than anyone. Ain't American thinking, that. I'd hate living somewhere where half my paycheck went to support a bunch of freeloaders that I actually have to curtsy to, or get sent to the Tower.

PS. I would be polite to the Queen if I ever met her, but not curtsy. I don't think I'd ever live that down. I might just bob my head, real quick-like.

Free people bow to no one.

Why?
I mean, the Queen's a nice lady and all, but the idea of royalty.....

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFt.....no one's better than anyone. Ain't American thinking, that. I'd hate living somewhere where half my paycheck went to support a bunch of freeloaders that I actually have to curtsy to, or get sent to the Tower.

PS. I would be polite to the Queen if I ever met her, but not curtsy. I don't think I'd ever live that down. I might just bob my head, real quick-like.

I guess in this day and age the idea of a queen just don't sit right with some .... I am unsure how that would make me feel. I am quite the Anglofile so I love studying the lines and Elizabeth I is one of my true heroes! I think they will be gone in a few generations.

Nations, like living organisms are either metabolic or catabolic. None are static. You either increase or you decrease. Nothing remains the same. The United States has had its day in the sun and it is nearing the time when other nations will supercede it. I see nothing wrong with that. It has happened before and will happen again. France, Spain, The HRE, Great Britain, China, India, all had their moments of glory only to have another nation displace them. Hopefully the U.S. will become like Great Britain, still a world player but not necessarily the top player.

I guess in this day and age the idea of a queen just don't sit right with some .... I am unsure how that would make me feel. I am quite the Anglofile so I love studying the lines and Elizabeth I is one of my true heroes! I think they will be gone in a few generations.

I enjoy reading about English history myself. I'm fascinated with the Tudors, Plantagenets, Lancastrians, and Yorkists.

I kinda lose interest with the Stuarts and the Hanovers were good for a few laughs if nothing else. The House of Windsor is somewhat dull, IMO. They are not even very English, which may explain why they're so out of touch with the regular folk.

funny how a lot of people would never bow to a queen but will kiss george bush's ass like it was made of candy.