How Long Can We Last?

Historian Hanson wrote in January of 2022: 

In modern times, as in ancient Rome, several nations have suffered a “systems collapse.” The term describes the sudden inability of once prosperous populations to continue with what had ensured the good life as they knew it. 

Abruptly, the population cannot buy, or even find, once plentiful necessities. They feel their streets are unsafe. Laws go unenforced or are enforced inequitably. Everyday things stop working. The government turns from reliable to capricious if not hostile. 

It is now October, 2023, and things are far worse.  We are closer than ever to systemic collapse. We do have it over the Bishop of Hippo in one respect, however: we can watch the decline and fall of a great republic on television! So far it is almost entertaining, and exceedingly stimulating for those of us of an intellectual bent, and it may remain such for a while as long as we can live our lives without being carjacked, mugged, shot to death, raped, and so long as our pharmacies and supermarkets remain open, the grid remains functional, and so on. Not to mention being thrown in prison by the agents of the police state with the tacit support of the useful idiots that make up about half of the population.

But it is only a matter of time before we are all, government functionaries and useful idiots included, swept up in the death spiral if we don't do something pronto.  Is societal collapse inevitable? I say No; my friend Brian thinks me naive. He may be right. (Argue your case, son.)

What say you?  How much time do we have before the sun finally sets on the Land of Evening? How much time do we have before der Untergang des Abendlandes?

We are drowning in excellent analysis when we need action. Trouble is, ameliorative action is out of the question in a nation as divided as we have allowed ourselves to become.

Comments

[DaveB]

"Trouble is, ameliorative action is out of the question in a nation as divided as we have allowed ourselves to become."

Well said.

[Whitewall]

We need action? Our enemy-Democrat(ic)-party has spent years, decades even generations working for the goal they have nearly achieved, meaning one party rule and only token opposition. All this time normal conservatively living people went about living their lives normally. To call these people to action because the enemy is at the gate will only leave them perplexed. After all, they marry and raise children, work and pay taxes and they vote according to what the media tells them is wrong.

These normal people have to be hurt constantly, meaning lost income, businesses, homes and even lost personal security. Maybe then will these conservative people stir to action. Meantime, dysfunctional Democrats keep on with what comes natural to them-destruction. It may well come to pass that normal people become activist at the same time Democrats descend into deeper dysfunction and eventual death in all meanings of the word.