Sep032007

Nigh

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Quote:

The end of the Roman Empire is traditionally, if not strictly accurately, placed at 4 September AD 476, when the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustus, was deposed and not replaced.

There’s a long-ish Wikipedia page about the fall of the Roman Empire. More accurately, it’s a page listing all the popular theories about how and why the empire fell. I can’t really comprehend most of it because I have no historical context. I’d need to read up about all the cultures, politics and wars before I could approach forming an opinion.

So why the sudden historical curiosity, Jack?

Well I’m wondering. I wonder if there was a large group of people that were all saying “I told you so” as civilisation burned to the ground. Maybe no one had the big picture but surely there would be a feeling of unrest in the same way that animals distress for no discernible reason but they just know some shit is about to hit the fan.

After reading some scary economic shit, it sounds like the US government is balancing bloodshed with the world economy and it amounts to an elephant on a tightrope with a novelty umbrella. The elephant is going to fall eventually and the umbrella is just for show. I wonder if someone is going to look at the start of the 21st century and say, “I told you so.” I don’t know if it’s going to happen, I don’t know if it’s going to be a slow death but the pessimist in me can’t help but wonder.

Then again, imagine if you lost your job, your savings and the bank was going to take away your house. What would you do if all you had left was a house full of starving mouths and a huge pile of guns?

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6 comments »

Mike

What good is a huge pile of guns if you can’t afford the ammunition?
Nathan

Following on from Mike’s question, I think Chris Rock’s bullet control idea is the only way to save America from itself.

The US, on the whole, is probably a sinking ship unless the next President can work some sort of economic magic, which isn’t likely because they’re all so focused on critically important issues like gay rights, which pose more of a threat to the nation than bankruptcy apparently. That’s one thing I find interesting about Australia – eleven years of Howard has shown that we don’t give a rat’s arse about social issues as long as the economy’s not going down the sink. Not necessarily a good thing, but an interesting contrast with the US.
Jack

I think it’d be odd if there was some kind of correlation between economic strength and gay rights. Immigration would be a better scapegoat.

If Australia doesn’t spend a lot of time debating issues like gay rights and abortion, it’s probably indicative of the lack of political power religion holds in the country.
Daniel

I’ve just started reading Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive. Haven’t got to the section on Rome yet. I don’t think the US economic weaknesses are enough to bring the country to its knees. It’s much more robust than in the 30s. If thers is a major collapse it will be global.
karan

sell the guns?
Mike

Isn’t everyone in some way or another linked to America anyway? so they go down, we all follow? I’m sure I remember reading, or at least watching something, where they demonstrated how we’re all in this together.

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