Posted on Jan 15, 2015
CW5 Jim Steddum
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I had a conversation in an academic setting with senior officer. He opined that the United States will never fail because when it comes down to it, Americans adapts, changes, and grows to meet obstacles head on.

In light of all that is going on politically, religiously, economically, and educationally-at home and abroad-is America, as we know it on a path to failure?
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Capt Richard I P.
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Edited >1 y ago
My heart hopes no and my brain says yes.

All systems degrade over time and eventually break down, Nation-States notwithstanding, and they tend to follow a pattern as they do it. I've written a bit about it on another post here somewhere and I might try to link to it at some point.

But I can't think of a better way to set up a robust self-sustaining system of governance or how to implement it. Taking an oath to support and defend the framework for this one seemed like the thing to do. So I hope we can keep it going a few lifetimes more.
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PV2 Senior Web Designer, Web Team Lead
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I echo the good Capt Richard I P.'s sentiments. I pray that we do not fail. Sigh...
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COL Vincent Stoneking
COL Vincent Stoneking
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Capt Richard I P. Almost exactly what I was going to post. But more eloquent.

History has shown this to be true of ALL civilizations. Even the 'continuous' or 'eternal' states that we might point too (China, Japan, Russia) are continuous in name only. There are widely understood phases that civilizations. So far, history is batting roughly 1000.

Like the good Capt., My intent is to help to current framework endure well enough for my son and his children to enjoy it. (And after I hang up the suit, perhaps to try to push for the next framework to be even a bit better - if I can figure out what "better" is.)
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MAJ Brigade Logistics Officer (S4)
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LTC Stephen C., I truly hope you are right. I do not see any sign of it, but it would be nice. My heart grows heavy whenever I think about the future of our country.
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PO2 Lester Sullivan
PO2 Lester Sullivan
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LTC Stephen C. - Can't vote you down, but plenty out there saying we're screwed! $19TRILLION in debt
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SSgt Randy Saulsberry
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History has already taught that all great empires get knocked off the mountain top.
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Lt Col Instructor Navigator
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I don't agree that everything is doom and gloom currently, or that the past was some noble, glorious ideal we should return to.

That said, every great empire has come to an end eventually. The question is, what form will the failure take? Will it be a spectacular, total collapse, as the Roman empire or Persian empire did? Or will it be a slower rolling back, as happened to Great Britain? Britain still exists, but it is no longer an empire spanning the globe. China still exists, but they are far from the height of their power. Even Russia still exists, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

My guess is that America will continue to exist, but it is unlikely we will continue to be the #1 global power forever.

I love Jeff Daniels monologue in "The Newsroom" about how America is no longer the greatest country in the world. I think he makes many, valid points, and that many of us are just willing to write off these criticism as "haters" and "traitors", rather than try to solve the problems he points out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPHSXUS0_1c
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MAJ Brigade Logistics Officer (S4)
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By the same token, while Russia still exists, the USSR does not. With the increased division between political parties and regions in the U.S., it's possible that we will follow a similar path.
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Lt Col Instructor Navigator
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Well, then whoever wrote it is a genius, and he does suggest some things: "We used to help each other. We used to build great big things. We didn't used to scare so easy".
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