by David Redick
August 20, 2010
from
ActivistPost Website
Spanish version
Thomas Cole (1801
- 1848)
Rome is collapsing in one
giant cataclysm,
drowning, suicide, homicide,
fires, floods, and more.
This is a complete collapse
that will end in total devastation.
The analysis below explains why all empires and "Imperial Style" governments
have failed throughout history, and why the Empire-USA faces the same fate.
The only question is whether the people and
government of the USA have the wisdom and will to engage in a "Managed
Decline" by terminating the empire and imperial conduct on their own
schedule, rather than by chaotic crash of the US Dollar, economy, and
lifestyle.
Take notice of the "Solutions" section in Part C
below.
Part A - Key Points
-
An Empire is a nation that:
-
Owns colonies, and/or
-
Controls, or has great influence
over, other nations
-
Empires require economic and
military strength to start and maintain, and this is
expensive.
-
All Empires fail, and for the same
reasons:
-
Expense of military abroad, and
subsidies at home
-
Decline in domestic productivity
(spoiled, parasitic citizens)
-
Corruption (illegal conduct) and
decadence (unethical and immoral conduct) by leaders and
citizens
-
Empire-USA:
Our deal to other nations is: we will be
the world’s policeman and protect you, but you must accept our fake
money and "influence." The USA is far into Phase 3-Failure.
Look around you for the symptoms shown
in Part B-3 and Part C below.
Chart Height Shows Combined
Military and Economic
Strength (Power and Wealth)
Part B - Events/Symptoms in
each Phase
Phase 1 - Growth
-
Land: Gain territory by "discovery" (too
bad for the natives), or conquest.
-
Strength: Start growth of economic and
military strength. Sound currency (precious metal, or convertible
paper and convertible base-metal coins).
-
Government: Local and central government
acts as a servant to protect the rights of citizens. No entangling
alliances with other nations. New land is governed as a colony or
part of homeland nation (becoming a sovereign republic may require a
revolution). The army consists of volunteers protecting their homes
and families, with no professional or standing army.
-
Ethics: Most government people and
citizens are hard working and honest. Government is a servant.
Phase 2 - Maturation
-
Land: Add contiguous land, or remote
colonies, by conquest or negotiation.
-
Strength: Become a world leader in both
economic and military strength. Homeland receives cheap imports from
colonies. Currency is debased to allow more government spending,
without raising taxes.
-
Government: Grows stronger, more
corrupt, and acts as boss, manager, nanny, owner, etc. Elected
officials will do almost anything to retain their jobs. Power is
used to manage other nations to impose/protect the Empire's
interests.
The central government increases control
(superiority) over local (city and state) functions, often based on
its power to create money to fund local projects. A standing army is
created and consists of mostly conscripts, and professional
careerists.
Wars become more oriented to building
and defending the Empire.
-
Ethics: Corruption and decadence grow
due to decline in personal responsibility caused by nanny state.
Phase 3 - Decline and/or Failure
-
Land: Lose colonies, or control of other
nations, by revolution or voluntary release (due to expense and
unrest).
-
Strength: No longer a world leader.
Power declines by 50% or more, especially in foreign matters. Value
of fake currency crashes in purchasing power by 50% or more. Default
on debt (or pay off with low value paper money).
-
Government: Becomes weak, more corrupt,
and desperate. Leaders try to gain power (decrees, martial law,
etc.) to survive citizen discontent. "Bread and Circuses" grow, now
called grants, subsidies, stimulus, and entitlements. The army
consists of mostly professional careerists, and volunteers, many of
whom join because they can't find work elsewhere.
Standards are lowered (criminal records,
non-citizens, health issues) to aid recruiting for wars of empire
(non-defense). Use of mercenaries and contractors grows toward 50%
or more of total staff, and their loyalty is to their Generals (or
Corporate officials), and original homeland, not the country that
pays them.
-
Ethics: Corruption and decadence are
rampant in both social and government conduct.
Failure occurs as either:
-
Nation survives, but at a
reduced level of strength and standard of living (England,
France, Italy, Spain, and Russia are examples; see list in
Part D), or
-
Ceases to exist due to takeover
by other nations or groups.
Part C - Empire-USA is
in Phase 3: Decline and/or Failure
Problems
-
High Expenses
The expense to maintain bases, and fight
wars, worldwide exceeds the monetary and political benefits.
The US has over
850 military bases, with troops
(not counting embassies), in over 130 countries, and the US acts as
the world’s policeman to protect its interests, and impose
influence. Resistance by our "subjects" is building. Military
expenses are a drag on the economy, and the troops get less than
ideal equipment due to cost problems.
Host nations are unhappy having our
occupying troops.
-
High Debt
The
US is a bankrupt Empire by any
measure. It cannot hope to pay back over $13 trillion in national
debt, or the about $50 trillion unfunded future obligations of
domestic programs (Medicare, Social Security, etc.).
Interest payments are huge. The US
Dollar (USD) is still the world’s reserve currency (held as if gold
by other nations; it can be viewed as a share in USA Inc.), despite
the fact that the US is also the world’s biggest debtor, but doubts
are rising in other countries who use and own dollars for trade.
This combination has never occurred
before in history!
Thus, since all US government debt is denominated
in USD, the government can create new low-value dollars out of thin
air to pay its debts! A new form of default! The USD is in a
precarious position due to excessive expansion of the money supply
(inflation) and the USD could crash in value at any time. The
extreme is hyperinflation, when the money becomes almost worthless.
As with heroin, lots of fake money (the
Federal Reserve Bank calls it liquidity) feels good at first, but
has withdrawal pain called recession or depression. Since the
Federal government never runs out of money, it often becomes the
funder for state projects (with strings attached), and states'
rights wither.
This gives vote-getting power to
Congressmen, and acquiescent State officials suck it up to avoid
taxing to raise state funds.
-
Enemies
The US claims to be a world leader, but
this is often a cover to be a bully to control other countries with
an occupying force to gain land and resources.
This started in 1812 with the failed
invasion of Canada, then 1845 with the Mexican-American War, and
1898 with the Spanish-American war (which led to
occupation/acquisition of the Philippines and Hawaii). The World
Wars, Korea, Vietnam and others followed.
The recent Balkans, Afghan, and Iraq
wars are primarily about,
-
Control of oil (The US wants it
all; no easy-cheap Mideast oil for India and China)
-
Defense of Israel
-
Land for bases to
control the
Mideast
-
Continuation of oil sales in US
Dollars by Iraq and Iran
The US entered/started all of these wars
based on lies by leaders.
What a disgrace and rip-off of the
people! Trust and respect for the US has declined in the eyes of its
citizens and other nations. This meddling foreign policy contributed
to 9-11 and terror.
The Federal government grasps for new,
unconstitutional power.
-
Corruption and Bad Ethics
Ethics and social conduct are on the
decline in the US. Corruption is rampant in both the government and
business. Shady conduct is considered normal (gang theft by vote,
"earmark" pork handouts, lying, etc.).
Primetime TV is now riddled with sexual
content, cursing, glorification of misconduct (The Sopranos,
Desperate Housewives, etc.), and violence (NASCAR, cop shows).
Sports are riddled with violence (the fans like it!) and cheating,
condoned by coaches and team owners that want to sell more tickets.
Little or none of the above occurred in
the ‘50s.
SOLUTIONS
Of the two ways to end the inevitable Phase 3 of an Empire (Decline or
Failure), it is far less painful to engage in a "managed decline," or
"nation restoration," compared to a massive depression.
England and France are examples.
A managed process would entail prompt action to:
-
Invoke a major change in foreign policy
by:
-
Terminating Empire-USA, and its
role as policeman and bully of the world, and focus on
homeland defense
-
Reducing spending and conflict
by closing most, or all, overseas bases, and keeping only a
minimal standing army (primarily State-controlled National
Guard)
-
Stop meddling in the affairs of
other nations by force, sanctions, or bribery (no preemptive
wars or occupations)
-
Promote free trade.
-
Invoke a similar change in domestic
policy where:
-
Federal spending is reduced by
50% or more
-
Creation of new fake money is
ended
-
Sound money is introduced (paper
is convertible to precious metal), and the Federal Reserve
System is abolished
-
The Constitution and law are
adhered to (with repeal of recent bad laws)
-
Market intervention (favors to
firms, unions, people) is ended, and free enterprise
capitalism is used.
These steps would help bring the government back
to its proper role to,
"Protect the personal and property rights of
citizens, as individuals, from threat or violation by others."
With this approach, the USA and its citizens
would enjoy a future of peace, prosperity, justice and good ethics. It
always works!
I cite W. Germany in 1948, and later Ireland,
Prov. of Alberta, Canada, and New Zealand.
Part D - The History
of Empire Phases
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gone, split to
Byz. & Holy Roman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austria
and Hungary survived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources
1. An Inquiry into the Decline and Fall of
Nations, W. Playfair, England, 1805 (Rare books library, Toronto,
Canada)
2. Empire of Debt, Bonner and Wiggins, 2006
|