Social decline of US and Rome, basically the same.

We can compare the decline of Rome tothe US modern day in many ways. I would like to focus on the cultural comparison though. If we go back to the days of Julius Caesar even before the alliance with Pompey and Crassus, we see that even though he was the religious leader of Rome he was still also a promo ate figure of the "cool crowd." That cool crowd is what I want to focus on. They were one of the first Roman generations that were born into wealth, which would mean their life wasn't devoted to building wealth or reputation, the latter of which was being to be given lip service more and more by that time, they could focus more on expression because they already had wealth. They were known for fashion( most notably wearing the belts on their robes very loose) lavish parites and orgys, collecting possessions. Scandals and affairs, social sunnings and grudges, having a reputation for social exploits rather than production to society. We could go into a lot more deptht when we get the real convo underway. Anyone see anything familiar yet??

 

Nah. Rome seems way cooler and it seems to align better with the upper class of the Jazz Age.

 

True they were a little more glamourous about it than we are now. But my point is that when a society produces entitled generations then the principles and structures they were built upon starts to fall. After that the status and the power of that society does as well. The jazz era was cool though and I'm a fan of the hippi time myself

 

The asshats on Jersey Shore would fit in well in Rome I think.

 

Rome never fell... it just tripped... over here, and then over there

 

And America hasn't fallen, it's just sat it's fatass down =P

 

I'm sure there were plenty or Romans lamenting the decline of "The old Republic" in the few decades before it's utter demise. Pretty sure they didn't all just wake up one morning and decide to burn the Capital city down on a whim.

 

True, a lot of Americans are looking back at better times as well. Even me and I am only 22

 

....Under the cross?

 

^^^ see what i'm saying? (she said as she ironed her bestest barbarian outfit)

 

the same self deceptive misunderstanding of it maybe

 

Rome was an Empire, it was bound to split apart.

The US is just a country.

A more reasonable comparison would be the allies, or the West

How have things really changed since the end of WW2? US, Russia and China are still the big superpowers, economically and otherwise, Africa is still fucked, Middle East cant stop fighting with themselves, Europeans cant agree with each other and Canada is still the most boring nation on earth

World Political landscape hasnt changed that much in 60+ years.

US is in a hole now, but not as big a hole as everyone is trying to make out

 

but an asshole is an asshole, no matter if shaved or not.

 

These generations of rulers in power is still true today. Most of the upper-class in power today were born into wealth, and their families have been in the same socio-economic situation for centuries. All these families with the money can afford a lifestyle of debauchery everyday, endless possessions, sending their kids to college, aligning them into their future as easily as possible.

These families had an initial struggle to gain wealth, hopefully. But after generations of stagnation, the values crumble, the individual family member's fall to greed, stop appreciating what they were given. Once they begin senseless indulgement, and they are a prominant figure, it makes the common people wonder.
It starts making all these like-minded individuals seem like on big entity that is acting for it's own gain and prosperity in the next generation . The common people, they don't like that, they are working harder for a smaller portion. Then the outbreaks begin.

 

This is very true, the US gov't is created out of the 'elite'. Those who come from wealth, a name, good schools and 'knowing the right people'.

A few other similarities are that Rome's biggest export was garbage, this is the same with the US. And they are both republics.