USA, the new Roman Empire?
398838
i am not against immigration just illegal immigration i once said on here this kind of stuff has been going on since the start of time and i was told i didnt know what i was talking about heres a example \n\n:With the onset of hard economic times in the 1870s, other immigrants and European Americans began to compete for the jobs traditionally reserved for the Chinese. With economic competition came dislike and even racial suspicion and hatred. Such feelings were accompanied by anti-Chinese riots and pressure, especially in California, for the exclusion of Chinese immigrants from the United States. The result of this pressure was the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed by Congress in 1882. This Act virtually ended Chinese immigration for nearly a century. \n\n\nCurrently, millions illegal aliens commandeer jobs away from American citizens. If they don't steal those jobs, they depress the wages to the point of legalized slavery. We have an estimated one million illegal alien Chinese in this country (Source: March 2005 Forbes Magazine). At the same time, we outsource jobs to China where a billion people can't wait to make 50 cents an hour. Human smugglers bringing illegals into America make $7 billion annually according to the report. \n\nDo they work the jobs Americans won't do? False! If American doctors were paid $5.00 an hour they wouldn't be working those hospital jobs either. \n\nYou have to ask yourself if you want illegal immigrant doctors working at minimum wage to perform a by-pass heart surgery on you? Would you like an illegal immigrant lawyer defending you in court for $5.00 an hour? How about a $5.00 an hour illegal immigrant college professor teaching your kids calculus? How about an illegal alien truck driver driving down the road at 70 MPH with 80,000 pounds of steel, no ability to read English and a fifth grade education-from Mexico's educational system? \n\nMeanwhile, profits soar for corporations while the middle class of America plummets into worsening unemployment. Will America drop into Third World conditions as economist Paul Roberts predicts? At the current rate of 4.1 million legal and illegal newcomers imported into the United States annually, it's only a matter of time before, we too, manifest conditions of the Third World. You can't drown the labor market with millions of people and expect to keep your wages high when immigrants will undercut you. \n\nThat's why the pay in China or India is less than $10.00 per day. They have 2.4 billion people in those two countries. That's why they live subsistence lives. In time, that reality will manifest itself in America as the middle class vanishes. It's already happening. You need look no further than California as an example of the first Third World State of America. \n\nCall your representatives
776020
No, but I learn more about USA!!!!!
854691
Good news...we will have a "regime" change tonight. \n\nYour hopes are becoming reality.\n\nGod bless America.
36074
I asked a question similar to this several weeks ago.  When looking at the similar patterns of history (such as the fall of Rome), it is apparent that the US will fall just as the Romans did.  \n\nAlthough many people in the US are unable to see how close they are to the greed, ego-centricism, denial and arrogance of ancient Roman culture, perhaps it will become more apparent when the society starts to fail and becomes lost.
1047368
The American people have never been thrilled with the long-term concept of empire.\n\nThe neocons will burn in hell.
966678
No will\nNo clout\nNo backbone\nNo respect\nNobody cares what europeans say or do.\n\nHey cd, America has been "the" empire for some years now. Did you just land on this planet ???
587227
no!!!!!  Many nukes, and a new beginning, with slugs being the dominant species!!!  \nThe U.S. is making a lot of enemies...if WW3 ever kicked off, we'd be in the same shit as everyone else, because our poor leadership has made a mockery and an evil thing out of democracy!
1080139
Being that the US is the premiere world power, it is incumbent that the US is the police state, so to speak, for the rest of the world.  Changing presidents will not change that.
69232
The United States is in a pickle. The President has attached much of America's international prestige to the wagon of success in Iraq.\n\nThe trouble is, the President has never clearly stated which marker will indicate "Success" has taken place. And as a result, insurgents and terrorists have been depleting and demoralizing American and Iraqi forces with roadside bombs, rocket launchers, and car bombs. \n\nAmerica's prestige was further depleted when it became clear that the causus belli, the weapons of Mass Destruction, did not seem to be there.\n\nHowever, at the same time, the US can hardly afford to just "get out." Colin Powell was right about quoting the pottery barn rule - "you break it, you buy it."\n\nSo over the next few months, the US will have to state what it believes "victory" to be, create the appearance that that victory has taken place, and then get out ASAP! :-)
1072557
Right now I am ashamed of our leaders and many of the people who live here. Their parents sure didn't know what they were doing when they raised them.\n\nWe are losing our freedoms, getting people killed and ripping off the poor to give to those who already have more than they need.\n\nWe are no longer leaders by example of what is right! To most of the world we represent all that is wrong!\n\nFreedom!! you have got to be kidding! So we are better than China, thats 1 and that isn't saying a hell of a lot when you consider Europe for examle. Almost anywhere in Europe is better than here, and they treat them better as well.\n\nAnd don't tell me to love it ir leave it! I EARNED mine!! Did you?\n\n\n"Look at history, man. The Romans began with a republic, just like we did. The freedom and prosperity that followed made them complacent, apathetic. They became fat and happy, and mistakenly figured that government was responsible. Since their government was such a Good Thing, it didn't need watching, so few paid it any attention. Those with a knack for politics took advantage of that to increase their power, and also their stash. Eventually the republic degraded into an empire, and suffered the fate of all empires. They go broke trying to keep control of every place they've conquered.\n\n"We're heading down the same road. Only this time, it's happening faster. It took three, four centuries for Rome to decline and fall. We might do it in three or four decades. Hell, maybe three or four years. Or months! Who the hell knows?"\n\nHe paused for a moment; I could see him trying to calm his breathing. He began to slowly read from the Wall, his eyes moving randomly over the panel. "David T. Hilton. William C. Langham. John A. Gibson. Richard Galan. Danny Lee Frye. Cecil D. Lamm. All these boys blown off the face of the Earth, because we just can't keep our noses out of what's happening on the other side of the world. Ever read George Washington's Farewell Address?"\n\nI shook my head. "He told us not to concern ourselves with what other countries are doing to and amongst themselves. He said it would just get us mired in a big mess. But did we listen? Nooooo. He warned us! Jefferson warned us! Most all of the Founders warned us! John Quincy Adams, about thirty years later, said 'America does not go out in search of monsters to destroy.' Well, now we do, John Q.\n\n"You know what I finally figured out? People don't start wars. Countries don't start wars. It's governments that start wars. Fuckin' governments. And we go along with it. Whenever you see a problem, social or economic or political, and think that government should do something about the problem, do a little homework and you'll probably find that government is the source of the problem. And war is just the epitome of government problem solving. So what if a majority thinks that this coming war is right. The majority is just something that government manufactures and manipulates to give the appearance of legitimacy to what government does.\n\n"And as for those government bozos who say that those who question their plans and motives is unpatriotic and aiding the enemy, well, they can just kiss my ass."\n\nCol David Hackworth 10 Silver Stars, 8 Purple Hearts. 3 DSC's!\n\nAnd he earned his!!
287274
We all know all good things come to an end, just like the Roman empire came to an end after 600 hundred years, i believe the U.S. will last no more than 2,000 years. I hope I will be proven wrong but that is my best guess.
937991
Please name me one country that the US has added by conquest in the last 100 years? There is not one!
201504
There are some who believe that we are indeed a colonial empire.\n\nHowever we (the US) are not National Socialists, we are a Federal Republic, with all that implies about checks and balances between levels and branches of government. WE the people of the US are the US government.\n\nTake a look at the book Empire (see link) whose thesis is that YOUR "we" the Empire is in fact not the US alone, but all the industrialized nations, and multinational organizations and corporations. \n\nMaybe so. But don't you think trolling with the acronym for National Socialism is a bit extreme if you are actually looking for a thoughtful answer?
753942
None. Israel, which is a holy place for the three major monotheistic faiths, is also one of the most conquered places in the world. Every civilization has proved to be temporary; Babylon fell, Persia fell, Greece collapsed, Rome fell, the Vatican lost its reigns, China and Mongolia have been crushed before, Britain has lost much influence, Soviet Union has fallen. And like my Greek teacher, I believe America is suffering its downfall and it wont reverse itself unto greatness.
165693
No, I thnk the US is behaving like the Roman Empire and I believe we will suffer the same fate Rome did in 456 A.D.\n\nThis war is a rich man's war and a poor man's fight.\nHas to be about oil - self aggrandizement, will-to-power, and money. I do not support Bush's Crusade. Never did.
642474
The greatest empire of all time is the Roman Empire.
1084607
Hi, I am an Englishman and never visited the States. I suppose like many people I would have to say that I have had mixed feelings about the USA. Most of the information regarding world events etc comes via the media and does not I think always give the most unbiased opinion. Not just in political events. We all see popular shows like Oprah and this without doubt has a profoundly negative effect. We see in the main what can only be described as weirdos and have to wonder if these strange selfish people are indicative of the country as a whole.\nHigh consumers, irresponsible ecological attitude and a me, me, me mind set.\nAll sounds horrible doesn't it? Thankfully there is the Internet where over the past couple of years I have made some excellent friends who have illustrated that there is a far more caring and unselfish, generous aspect to many of the citizens of the US than I previously thought. \nMy country and yours have been strong allies both economically and in time of conflict and shared a whole lot together. I personally hope that this will always be the case.\nWho knows what may happen in Iraq, North Korea and the rest of the world. But I believe that in the main (although always influenced by oil) The forces currently in Iraq are trying extremely hard to bring about stability. If they were only allowed to do so, your country and mine could bring our troops home. The sooner the better.\nIn a nut shell I am pro American. OK?