The Fall of America

The Fall of America

All great empires fall—the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the English Empire, Soviet Russia. The reasons are clear. Financial ruin, along with foreign  threats and internal revolutions, causes rulers to lose their prowess. These kingdom-crushers have one origin: immorality. From the start, all of these empires were based on the immoral greed and violence of the ruling classes. What kept these empires growing, perhaps, was the morality of a number of other individuals. The wisdom of philosophers, the benevolence of local leaders, the innovations of scientists, the creativity of artists, along with the hard work, modesty, and peacefulness of the majority of citizens, somehow kept a corrupt system going. Initially, the military might and vast riches of the rulers and plunderers made the empires seem strong. Ultimately, the reality of an immoral system not based on reason destroys the system. However, there are plenty of these systems and more that will follow. 

America is different because its formation was based on morality and reason. The Founders’ analysis of the Enlightenment thinkers made them reject a blind allegiance to an immoral self-serving system and instead favored a reasoned, balanced, and respectful system of government that created free men and a servant government. How successful it was, but is no longer. We saw a history of innovation and progress like no other. Despite the various backgrounds of the citizens, there was generally a moral trend. Self-reliance, personal responsibility, respect for property, tolerance of others, and dedication to family and career seem to have kept, and are still keeping to a certain degree, the system alive. Cooperation correlated to the general religiosity of the population—not necessarily the mystical part of religion, but the rigid social rules that came along. 

However, every system is inherently precarious. Ever since the twentieth century, the impending doom has accelerated. The Baby Boomers—the richest, best-educated, most spoiled generation the earth has ever seen—followed the generation that lived through the Great Depression and fought in the Great War. What was notable about this generation, however, was the significant abandonment of religion. That was a good thing. Religion had instilled fear of punishment and unnatural constraints on the self. However, when the moral system of religion collapsed, so did society’s morals. This generation did not seek reason to replace religious 

dogma; they took their new social freedom and “let loose.” Look at the sixties—drugs, sex, divorce—me, me, me; now, now, now. There was less and less saving and planning for the future. It was on a whim, self-indulgence: “screw the future.” 

This is evident politically. Nixon went off the gold standard (endless money!) and Johnson passed the Great Society (free goodies!). Debt was irrelevant: “just put it on the kids’ tabs.” Even worse, this generation adopted another kind of religion, “statism,” a worship of the State. The Boomer politicians championed an entitlement society. They got their votes from plundering and granting special favors. The political and media elite promoted the vision of a benevolent and omnipotent government, superior to community, family, and the individual. The political debates were not about reason or morals, but instead phony, superficial “compassion.” What exists today is merely an extension of this vision. “More money for Medicare!” “Protect teachers!” “More stimulus to boost the economy!” There is no reason or respect for people’s property, just theft – stealing from the workforce and future generations. The political issues today, especially those of the upcoming election, are mere antics when compared to the degradation of principles. 

Societies inescapably crumble because of the immorality and greed of the rulers. America is no different. Its rulers—its people—were bound to become greedy eventually. The Boomers ignited this downfall, with the combination of a rejection of religious and social principles, and acceptance of government control. It is up to our generation to decide, with reason, whether we can preserve the system or protect the torch of liberty. Who knows? What if we decide that we do not need these systems at all, that we do not need something to worship? Then again, isn’t this blasphemy?