Will America Follow the Path of Rome?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the similarities between the American decline and the decline of the Roman Republic. Victor Davis Hanson quoted the ancient historian Livy (59 B.C. – 17 A.D.) of saying about “the long decline of the Roman national character”: “We can bear neither our diseases nor their remedies.” 

Hanson then declared, “America is nearing such an impasse.” He added, “We know that no state can long exist after opening its borders to over 7 million illegal aliens, requiring neither background checks nor legality.”

So this generation apparently feels that it can endure the collateral damage of daily assaults on American citizens, the near bankruptcy of our cities, and 100,000 fentanyl deaths per year – but certainly not the idea that it is somehow not politically correct or compassionate. The same is true of the $35 trillion debt, now costing more than $1 trillion a year in interest payments – and growing. We all know it is unsustainable. Americans understand it will eventually lead either to destructive hyperinflation, suicidal renunciation of federal debt, or confiscation of private savings.

Yet we ignore the reckless spending and keep borrowing well over $1 trillion a year. Apparently, our generation prefers being praised as “virtuous” and “caring.” So it leaves the next generation to be smeared as “cruel” and “unfair” when it is forced to cut federal entitlements and bloated government or face civilizational collapse.

The crime epidemic is also similar. Everyone accepts that no society can long endure quasi-legalized shoplifting or green-lighting smash-and-grabbers and carjackers to be released without bail.

But we assume that such a civilizational implosion will never reach our own sanctuary neighborhoods or safe places of work – at least not yet.

We also know that restoring deterrence by arresting, convicting, and jailing repeat felons will return safety to our streets.

Hanson continued in his article to mention other areas that are contributing to the decline of America: the homeless who are living on the streets of America instead of receiving help for their mental illness; the weaponization of our legal system which looks a whole lot like what happens in third-world countries; America’s paralysis when dealing with foreign policy.

Hanson concluded his article with the following declaration:

Societies do not always collapse from a lack of wealth, invasion, or natural catastrophes.

More often, they know what is destroying them. But they are so paralyzed by their fear that the road to salvation becomes too painful to even contemplate.

So they implode gradually, then suddenly.