Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned

[no_such_reality]

While not exactly shocking news, we need our pols and governments officials to start shouting this at every opportunity.

Taking a HELOC out to stuff your house with a bunch of junk made in China, buy a giant SUV and burn gallon after gallon of gas to go to the corner video store that is four blocks away is wrecking our country.

[HereWeGo]

Well, if he worked at Arthur Anderson, he certainly should know a thing or two about shady accounting practices.

[HereWeGo]

Well, if he worked at Arthur Anderson, he certainly should know a thing or two about shady accounting practices.

[HereWeGo]

Well, if he worked at Arthur Anderson, he certainly should know a thing or two about shady accounting practices.

[kicksavedave]

It seems, the only thing newsworthy in that article was the line “Turn up the volume”.

Everyone here at the Piggington Costco already knew most of this… but by turning up the volume, maybe the rest of the 200 million Americans with their heads collectively in the sand, will hear it too.

Maybe if we had a president or a congress who weren’t deaf, that might help also. Gotta turn up the volume on those hearing aids as well.

[kicksavedave]

It seems, the only thing newsworthy in that article was the line “Turn up the volume”.

Everyone here at the Piggington Costco already knew most of this… but by turning up the volume, maybe the rest of the 200 million Americans with their heads collectively in the sand, will hear it too.

Maybe if we had a president or a congress who weren’t deaf, that might help also. Gotta turn up the volume on those hearing aids as well.

[kicksavedave]

It seems, the only thing newsworthy in that article was the line “Turn up the volume”.

Everyone here at the Piggington Costco already knew most of this… but by turning up the volume, maybe the rest of the 200 million Americans with their heads collectively in the sand, will hear it too.

Maybe if we had a president or a congress who weren’t deaf, that might help also. Gotta turn up the volume on those hearing aids as well.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?

[NotCranky]

“We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?”

Can You explain this Allan? I almost tend to think the wine you have been talking about explains it ;).

[NotCranky]

“We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?”

Can You explain this Allan? I almost tend to think the wine you have been talking about explains it ;).

[NotCranky]

“We’re an empire?!?

Holy crap! How come we don’t have more stuff?”

Can You explain this Allan? I almost tend to think the wine you have been talking about explains it ;).

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: Sorry, just an off-handed, snarky comment.

While I am certainly bearish in my tendencies, I find the “end of the empire” routine that accompanies bad financial news a wee bit tiresome.

I agree that this country needs to re-define itself in terms of mores, responsibility and our role in the world, but to relegate the US to the ash heap of history so quickly really rankles me.

I hear incessantly the talk of China’s ascendance and am reminded of the talk during the 1980s of Japan, Inc. and how that country’s business and social “model” was going to outstrip our own and in short order.

During the post-Vietnam War malaise of the mid- to late-1970s, it was talk of the Soviets finally putting an end to the capitalist model, and of all the successes that their system and influence seemed to enjoy.

So, here we go again. And I certainly will profess to more than a little personal unease as this whole situation begins to unwind. Does it presage the end of the American “empire”? Somehow, I don’t think so. This country has shown remarkable resilience over the years and against some pretty tough competition. I wouldn’t count us out just yet.

Do we need to do some serious work? Yup, and hopefully this upcoming gargantuan systemic enema will do just that.

And, if that doesn’t work: I am counting on Hillary!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: Sorry, just an off-handed, snarky comment.

While I am certainly bearish in my tendencies, I find the “end of the empire” routine that accompanies bad financial news a wee bit tiresome.

I agree that this country needs to re-define itself in terms of mores, responsibility and our role in the world, but to relegate the US to the ash heap of history so quickly really rankles me.

I hear incessantly the talk of China’s ascendance and am reminded of the talk during the 1980s of Japan, Inc. and how that country’s business and social “model” was going to outstrip our own and in short order.

During the post-Vietnam War malaise of the mid- to late-1970s, it was talk of the Soviets finally putting an end to the capitalist model, and of all the successes that their system and influence seemed to enjoy.

So, here we go again. And I certainly will profess to more than a little personal unease as this whole situation begins to unwind. Does it presage the end of the American “empire”? Somehow, I don’t think so. This country has shown remarkable resilience over the years and against some pretty tough competition. I wouldn’t count us out just yet.

Do we need to do some serious work? Yup, and hopefully this upcoming gargantuan systemic enema will do just that.

And, if that doesn’t work: I am counting on Hillary!

[Author]

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