Comments on the Greatest City-State and the Greatest Nation

My concerns relative to the parallels observed in the rise and fall of Rome and the increasing changes we see in America today are stunning.

Yesterday, while reading Cicero, maybe the greatest of the Roman historians, I noticed many parallels to what we are seeing today in America (others have mentioned similar observations). Rome, in its first 300 or so year, had been known for its public virtue and patriotism. There was a profound respect for and admiration for the great Republic and Roman character. After the defeat of Carthage between 264 BC and 146 BC and all enemies were seemingly distant from Rome, enormous change took place. The government became politically corrupt (previously the country had been blessed with great leaders of known and admired character, personal courage was an essential expectation of one in public office, and it was said to be unthinkable that such courage was not part of the kit bag of all politicians). But, by 51 BC, the Republic was dying. It is written that Rome became characterized by:

• Loss of public virtue,

• The once great Senate, also known for its character and courage, became one of incompetence and corruption,

• Roman morale and morality plummeted equally,

• The population felt safe and at ease, and of course, looked the other way as wealth mounted from the spoils of war and free or cheap food from a wealthy nation,

• Easy money was there for many in positions of authority,

• Everything was for sale; bribery was prevalent throughout the Republic, and politics became a money-making business,

• Votes were bought and sold, so were judges, and no one trusted the electorate or the courts,

• There wa nothing so bad that Rome was not ready to whisper/gossip about,

• Laws were disregarded and the courts were despised,

• Elections were a farce; the largest purse was elected, and nobody cared, because life was good, and,

• Great fortunes were accumulated.

  There was much more, and Cicero wrote his brother saying that, “Anything more corrupt than the men and times of today cannot be conceived.” Ten years later, the Republic ended and Cicero’s headless body was discovered on the seashore. Cicero was a introvert, voracious reader and writer, and as was typically the case, called on to serve in the Roman military as a General and later in government as a consul.

  No one can predict that America will fall prey to a similar outcome, but the direction that we are heading sounds an alarm.