Fruits of Empire

We have reached a point where we may judge just how beneficial the status of being the one super power on the planet truly is.

(Need I go on? Oh, I guess I shall...)

When the USSR was around, we conspired together to avoid mutual destruction, even though we were headed that way, and agreed to eliminate nuclear weaponry. Personally, I have said and continue to say that this was one of the greatest and most influential Moral Acts in human history: when the USSR and the USA refused Armageddon's invitation to tea.
(And I am sorry that the Russian people and the American people are not closer friends at this time when all need friends.)

After that changed and the USA became the one super power and had dreams of Pax Americana and Empire ( they actually said crap like that in the Bush years!) we discovered that there actually is a Balance that God uses to keep things on an even keel; if someone goes to far in one direction, the Fates intervene to restore the balance... sometimes the Fates are called the Furies, too.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

That is not just poetry nor a Psalm; it is a true description of real world dynamics.
It is not a maxim, an adage, nor wisdom; it is the true manner in which events occur.

The bane of Empire is the Arrogance before Destruction. I understand Rome now... a keen balancing act between destruction, adequacy, and mind-blowing arrogance starting the cycle back up again.

Oh, and by the way, people can still keep making money through all of this. People got rich when Rome was up and when Rome was down. It was not Taxation that ruined business; it was the Arrogance and Greed of over reaching.
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