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What America can learn from the fall of the Roman republic

13 points by pmoriarty 6y ago

627467 6y ago
Imperial Rome lasted much longer than the Republic (1000 years if you are generous with Bizantium lifespan). Maybe the lesson is that Republics help setup the context for more stable (fullfiling?) order?
supernova87a 6y ago
Regardless of the exact mechanism of the downfall of the US, if you even believe that to be likely in the current environment (always at risk of being an overblown conclusion) -- Where/who would be the country to take our place?
- wombatmobile 6y ago
  > Where/who would be the country to take our place? Take our place at what? Could you elaborate?
- AnimalMuppet 6y ago
  For what this article is talking about, nobody would take our place. We just wouldn't be a representative democracy any longer. (If we really followed Rome, we would keep the facade for a while, but the reality would be otherwise.)
Shivetya 6y ago
Yet another thinly veiled election timed piece being used to push one group's addenda. The next three months are going to be so damn annoying
- birdyrooster 6y ago
  In whose favor?
- AnimalMuppet 6y ago
  If you think the article only attacked one side, you need to read more thoughtfully. There's plenty, on both sides, that fits what the article was talking about.
082349872349872 6y ago
The die has not yet been cast: the legions have not only indicated they do not wish to cross the Rubicon, they specifically remain true to the "American People." https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23412986 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23412986 PSQA?
- Nomentatus 6y ago
  That is they will "defend" the constitution by doing nothing about others breaking their oaths to uphold it; they will, precisely, NOT act to preserve it.
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    I don't think greece, spain, or portugal ever got as bad, but the latin american experience with involving the military in politics was that it leads to taking dissidents on helicopter rides. Todd Winn, as far as I know, has yet to receive any grief on the JAG/SJA front. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_flights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_flights https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020/06/29/i-cant-breathe-this-is-the-marine-who-protested-outside-the-utah-capitol-in-uniform-for-racial-equality/ https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020...

13 points by pmoriarty 6y ago

Imperial Rome lasted much longer than the Republic (1000 years if you are generous with Bizantium lifespan). Maybe the lesson is that Republics help setup the context for more stable (fullfiling?) order?

supernova87a 6y ago

Regardless of the exact mechanism of the downfall of the US, if you even believe that to be likely in the current environment (always at risk of being an overblown conclusion) -- Where/who would be the country to take our place?

wombatmobile 6y ago
> Where/who would be the country to take our place? Take our place at what? Could you elaborate?
AnimalMuppet 6y ago
For what this article is talking about, nobody would take our place. We just wouldn't be a representative democracy any longer. (If we really followed Rome, we would keep the facade for a while, but the reality would be otherwise.)

Shivetya 6y ago

Yet another thinly veiled election timed piece being used to push one group's addenda. The next three months are going to be so damn annoying

birdyrooster 6y ago
In whose favor?
AnimalMuppet 6y ago
If you think the article only attacked one side, you need to read more thoughtfully. There's plenty, on both sides, that fits what the article was talking about.

082349872349872 6y ago

The die has not yet been cast: the legions have not only indicated they do not wish to cross the Rubicon, they specifically remain true to the "American People." https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23412986 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23412986 PSQA?

Nomentatus 6y ago
That is they will "defend" the constitution by doing nothing about others breaking their oaths to uphold it; they will, precisely, NOT act to preserve it.
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  I don't think greece, spain, or portugal ever got as bad, but the latin american experience with involving the military in politics was that it leads to taking dissidents on helicopter rides. Todd Winn, as far as I know, has yet to receive any grief on the JAG/SJA front. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_flights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_flights https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020/06/29/i-cant-breathe-this-is-the-marine-who-protested-outside-the-utah-capitol-in-uniform-for-racial-equality/ https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020...