Although it is impossible to see or predict the future accurately it is the fate of every living thing on earth to perish. Just like that every empires have an expiration date too. According to British professor Sir John Glubb, the average life of an empire is around 250 years. The Assyria Empire lived from 859-612 B.C around 247 years, The Persia Empire 538-330 B.C around 208 years, The Greece Empire 331-110 B.C around 231 years, The Roman Republic 260-27 B.C around 233 years and many more. Is United States going to follow the same pattern and can we save it.
In his essay "The fate of an empire and search for survival" he divides the life cycle into 6 stages. The Age of Pioneer is characterized when a group of people, conquers large amount of territory. They have seemed insignificant to others and were not thought as not a threat. For example, Macedonia was a state North of Greece which was considered every irrelevant. Under Alexander the Great, they conquered Persia, which was the super power of its time. Another example were the Mongols who were thought of as very insignificant. They later conquered China and half of the Arabian empire. This outburst was led by people who were usually poor, handy, entrepreneur, and above all aggressive. Their courage overcame all of the adversities they were faced with. Also, the empires they were fighting against were on their defensive, years of wealth, and propensity have made them lazy. The second period, The Age of Conquest, starts once the conquerors gain a strong foot hold in these new lands. They learn the military tactics and use the weapons of these conquered empires to conquer even more land. Unlike before when most of their victories were mostly based on sheer bravery and courage, this time it is more organized. The organization and the courage allows them to overwhelm all their enemies. The third stage is Age of Commence. The conquest of large areas provide huge opportunities to make money. Bringing all these land under one government provides additional stimulus for economic growth. The Age of Commerce starts the Age of Affluence. During this stage, making money for self becomes more important than making money for community and country. Schools no longer produce men who are patriotic or have good morals. Instead they create students who are hungry for money and power, and their highest objective is to make the most money. Fifth is the Age of Intellect during this time universities spring up everywhere in the nation, education becomes available to everyone and huge sums of money is given to research and development. The final stage is The Age of Decadence. During this period, internal conflicts increase. Civil wars, political rivalries and discontentment with life become part of life.
The United States of America is following the same pattern. The United States of America gained its independence from Britain in July 14th 1776 and today it is 2014. Subtract that and you can see United States have lived 238 years, and an Empire’s average age is 250 years. So, United States is getting pretty old and it is very close to its decline. We have passed the Age of Pioneers. During this time, pioneers came to America, settled here, fought the British and won. Then Age of Conquest came. This period is marked by American conquest of the West historians called it Manifest Destiny. The third stage is Age of Commence. During this period United States made huge amounts of money. We built rail roads, mined gold in California and Georgia, revolutionized auto industry and later money made in WWI and WWII. The end of WWII, started the Age of Intellect. Once the U.S soldiers came back GI bill was introduced. The bill helped veterans get education. Before this period most of America was agriculture based and most families lived on frames. After this influx to cities increased and American economy became more industrial. Also the nuclear age drove the research and development. So we have passed the age of intellect. Now comes the Age of decadence, which is now. America have become more defensive. Before we fought wars for values. Now most the soldiers are in for military for the benefits. And we are fight wars over economic reasons. We are trying to save the dollar which have out lived its life spam. School have stopped producing patriots and leaders. Instead they are focused on how their students can make the most money. The natives or the people who have founded the nation have become lazy and have started to hire foreigners to do their work. For example hiring people for defense contracts and shipping jobs over such as programming which most American don't want to do since it is hard. Dissatisfaction with life have increased because people want more and more, and no matter how much they get it is not enough.
Can we be saved? Is it possible for us to outlive our age? Is it possible proof the pattern to go wrong? Well in theory yes we can, but what is going on right now, it looks impossible. First of all we have to take a break. The faster you run, the more it becomes likely you are going to fall. We need to stop all the wars we are fighting for the supremacy of dollar. Let the world takes its own course, let the dollar expire, and find something which is fair for everyone. Secondly need to end all political and ideological internal difference and come on the same page. When the Ottomans were thinking about attacking the Byzantine, The Byzantine for the last 50 years were engaged in civil wars and fight against each outer. Like we saw on Wall Street, like we are seeing in Mississippi and like what we are seeing all over USA. Third make all U.S companies produce in USA but they can sell their products outside USA. Why this can't happen. Greed. If the political rivalries end, how will the republicans and democrats be able to raise billions of dollars for their "campaigns". The second reason why people cannot compromise and end the unrest. Well the wealth gap is increasing, the middle class is paying more taxes than ever. It is almost impossible for a new person n to make money in the market since, most of the lucrative investments have been swept clean by the corporations. For example Real state, right now the best place to make money in real state is Detroit. The fall of auto industry have left that city a Ghost town. New stimulus plans from federal government and state of Michigan are being executed to bring the city back to its feet. Great investment opportunity for middle class man to invest in, wrong J.P Morgan and another bank is going to start investing there. If you want to make money in Oil. North Dakota is great for a new man right. Wrong Gas prices are going to go down. So, the gap between the rich and poor will continues to increase and it is impossible to end internal rivalries.
In conclusion Greed have brought all those Empires to their demise and we are there too. Should you be scared or not. Well that is an answer only time can tell. When the Germanic tribes surrounded Roman capital, all the Romans went to the Calcium and watched gladiators fight.