Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned
The Financial Times ^ | August 14 2007 | Jeremy Grant

Posted on 08/14/2007 9:22:48 AM PDT by mustang buff

The US government is on a ‘burning platform’ of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon, the country’s top government inspector has warned. David Walker, comptroller general of the US, issued the unusually downbeat assessment of his country’s future in a report that lays out what he called “chilling long-term simulations”. These include “dramatic” tax rises, slashed government services and the large-scale dumping by foreign governments of holdings of US debt.

(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arewerome; romanempire; rome; searchrome; thirdposting
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-126 next last
To: stuartcr

Yep.


21 posted on 08/14/2007 9:38:42 AM PDT by frogjerk (If ignorance was bliss, liberals would be happy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: stuartcr

Yep. But I don’t.


22 posted on 08/14/2007 9:39:10 AM PDT by frogjerk (If ignorance was bliss, liberals would be happy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: massgopguy
The fall of every great civilization was preceded by a "Sexual Revolution".

There, I fixed it for you.

23 posted on 08/14/2007 9:40:26 AM PDT by frogjerk (If ignorance was bliss, liberals would be happy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

Ha! Rome lasted a thousand years (more like 1,300). Anyway Rome couldn’t destroy the world if they wanted. America doesn’t need to be afraid, the rest of the barbarians do. If the barbarians are at the gate, they lose, not us...The third world (the US being first and second), never thinks about this...


24 posted on 08/14/2007 9:41:27 AM PDT by HYPOCRACY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff
"Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned"

Yeah, the fall sucked but the summer really grooved...

;-)

25 posted on 08/14/2007 9:43:41 AM PDT by Jonah Hex ("How'd you get that scar, mister?" "Nicked myself shaving.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

search is your friend


26 posted on 08/14/2007 9:44:02 AM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

27 posted on 08/14/2007 9:44:55 AM PDT by vietvet67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff
He may be right, but not for the reasons he outlines.

"Roman matrons used to say to their sons: ‘Come back with your shield, or on it.’ Later on, this custom declined. So did Rome."

— Robert A. Heinlein

28 posted on 08/14/2007 9:45:59 AM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff
in a report that lays out what he called “chilling long-term simulations”. These include “dramatic” tax rises, slashed government services and the large-scale dumping by foreign governments of holdings of US debt.

Well here are some possible solutions Mr. Controller General.

1. CUT taxes to generate MORE revenue for "the government."

2. By all means, SLASH GOV. SERVICES! There are too many anyway.

3. Force those countries that owe billions to the U.S. TAXPAYERS to pay those countries that are owed by the U.S. Government.

Problem solved. It isn't that hard if you try, you stooge.

29 posted on 08/14/2007 9:46:18 AM PDT by subterfuge (Today, Tolerance =greatest virtue;Hypocrisy=worst character defect; Discrimination =worst atrocity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

Thanks for posting this. (Sad to see that many of the responses on the thread remind me of the famous monkey covering his eyes, ears, and mouth. Willful ignorance.)


30 posted on 08/14/2007 9:46:47 AM PDT by SergeiRachmaninov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OpusatFR
We aren’t even close to the Roman Empire. I haven’t seen crucified insurgents lining the road from Mosul to Baghdad, nor have I seen tribute being paid by all the countries we have bases in to protect the entire West.

We don't wear togas either but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of other parallels to be compared. Morally and spiritually to mention one. Every major world power has fallen in history, either from it's own weakness, corruption, or some combination of both. Why would America be the exception?

Don't get me wrong - I certainly want our country to avoid the same fate - I just see us making plenty of the same mistakes other nation powers have made throughout history. If we don't correct them soon, we may find ourselves as a nation facing the same consequences.

31 posted on 08/14/2007 9:46:49 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff
He may be a good accountant, but he's a lousy historian.

He's a deficit hawk who is worried about the bills that will come due when the Boomers retire and draw on Social Security and Medicare. That wasn't Rome's problem.

It's a legitimate concern, but given what happened to President Bush's modest proposal to start paying down some of those liabilities now, instead of waiting and relying entirely on the present pay as you go system, the country isn't going to do anything about it until the problem is upon us.

32 posted on 08/14/2007 9:50:52 AM PDT by colorado tanker (I'm unmoderated - just ask Bill O'Reilly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OB1kNOb

America is not an empire. There is no comparison. The “powers” that fell were all empires, Persian, Soviet, Rome, Britain, Mongol, etc...explain the similarities...


33 posted on 08/14/2007 9:52:41 AM PDT by HYPOCRACY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: vietvet67

Must be very cold standing next to Hillary!


34 posted on 08/14/2007 9:54:20 AM PDT by brownsfan (America has "jumped the shark")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

So is this when we thank the “greatest generation” for having government expand beyond its means and passing it’s all about me on to their grandchildren?


35 posted on 08/14/2007 9:55:42 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff
“declining moral values”

This is the killer. Once you’ve lost your way morally, there is no hope for everything else. Is it too late? It seems increasingly, there is a decreasing “moral minority.” Look at the choices we have for our next leader.

36 posted on 08/14/2007 9:56:21 AM PDT by CarryingOn (Spread the message every day, like your life depended on it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CarryingOn

Once you’ve lost your way morally, there is no hope for everything else.


Why? And aren’t morals dependent on culture?


37 posted on 08/14/2007 9:58:05 AM PDT by durasell (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: mustang buff

We need to avoid plagues?


38 posted on 08/14/2007 9:58:14 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HYPOCRACY

To clarify, I did not call America an empire, I called it a “major world power”, albeit one with its fingers in practically every major issue going on in the world. True, technically we aren’t an empire, but our global influence throughout the world surpasses anything experienced by any “empire” that has occurred in history, IMO.


39 posted on 08/14/2007 10:02:34 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

lol


40 posted on 08/14/2007 10:05:02 AM PDT by vietvet67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-126 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson