With the revolting display of political theater in the last few weeks, I couldn’t help but consider the parallels between the Roman Empire and the American Empire. The entire debt ceiling farce was a circus on an epic scale – The Greatest Show on Earth. The American public was treated to high wire acts of near debt experiences, Senators putting their heads into the mouths of lions, and hundreds of clowns riding tiny bikes with squeaking horns. In the end, American politicians did what they do best - pretended to solve a spending problem without cutting spending. Only in America could politicians put the country on course to increase its national debt from $14.5 trillion to $23 trillion by 2021 and declare they are cutting spending. For those that need to visualize the lies of politicians, take a gander at this chart and try to find the cuts in spending.
The Roman authorities provided free wheat to the peasants as a superficial means of appeasing the masses and distracting them from the fact that public policy and public service had failed, as corruption and decadence engulfed those in control of government. Free bread, chariot races, and feeding Christians to lions kept the small-minded peasants satiated and ignorant of their civic duty. Today, the authorities don’t hand out bread they hand out EBT cards to 45.5 million Americans, or 14.6% of the entire population.
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4 comments:
Even multiple foreign wars and the "bread and circus" acts eventually fell short. Remember what the Romans did to their rulers, after they realized what a scam was being perpetrated on them.
Wow. I remember a debate I was required to participate in when I was in 8th (?) grade in a small school in Oglesby, Okla. Even though I didn't want to do it and even though I didn't believe it, my teacher made me argue that the US, like any other great country in history, would eventually fall. I used the Roman Empire's rise and fall in my argument. Was I right, I now wonder? "Bread & circuses." Sounds like welfare, food stamps, etc, and American culture in the 21st Century.
Speaking of entitlements, are you aware that you can get a voucher from the humane society for $25 to have your new pet spayed or neutered? Whoops! Did I mention you can only get this discount if you are on some kind of public assistance? Seriously?
Seeing signs like the one posted at the top of the article makes me feel like I'm in a bad movie where humans are horrible....go figure....god we're deteriorating as a race if this is the stuff we let happen now.
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