Husbandry and other Topics ...

[mrdreamjeans]

After the past two days, I think it is clear that I would make someone a good husband! I've fixed all of the meals, finished four loads of laundry, vacuumed and dusted, done three loads of dishes, changed the sheets and remade two beds, fed the dog, washed my car and even baked cookies! (Though, I still don't iron:) That counts for something, right?! Moms, Wives and House-bands unite! *grin* I'm not complaining though ... Mom's a good patient and I like babying her:)

The following was forwarded by my brother-in-law to me. I'm not sure it stands up to scrutiny and I stopped short of posting the parts that offended me, but it is worth a look ...

How Long Do We Have?

"About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government."

"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury."

"From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years."

"During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage"

Do you agree with this assessment? What stage do you think we have entered (if you agree)? It definitely is worth pondering.

Comments

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

Waaaaaaaaay too simplistic an analysis, and also inaccurate. The Persian Empire, the Pagan Roman empire, The Eastern (Orthodox) Empire, the Chinese, theyare all great civilisations,though not democracies, and lasted far longer than 200 years. I wold fail any student who put this kind of argument up in a paper.

Great you are having such fun being domestic and looking after your Mom. I 'm sure she's loving all the pampering.

shrewd observations. I agree

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

I applaud the distinction between Democracy and Civilization. Not the same thing or even synonymous. But because America was founded as a Republic based on the concept of freedom, Americans often confuse the 2. A lot of people in the US think Democracy (or our take on it) automatically warrants Civilization. If so, it is that of a junk and fast-food nation, sugar-loaded soft drinks, lousy coffee, Disneyland and obesity. Videogame literacy does not exactly constitute culture. And the correlation between football and videogame fanaticism only serves to illustrate how primitive American civilization still really is.

These are the things that reasonably come to mind when you think of American pop culture (misleadingly dubbed as civilization) in the last 2 decades. It can often be fascinating at 1st look, but it is marginal at best when closely examined. Of little consequence. But, then again, a solely consumeristic society shall never have the impact of a creative one.

Greed is the only *major* thing effectively re-invented in America that's actually had a profound effect on the world. But even then, one has to wonder how long our influence will last or stand the test of time when compared to that of the Roman Empire, a civilization also based on greed but whose impact on humanity has lasted for centuries - undoubtedly because they also created. Time will tell?

Wandering off.......

. I see American culture of the period between the 50's and 70's, Jazz, The Wizard of Oz :) Disney/WB, Batman/Superman as real American inventions of lasting (if not profound) influence.

. Musical trends have been imported after Elvis up to the present. Same with food. Otherwise, please! The art of Warhol even though iconic is much too inflated like the writing of Hemingway. Dance? mah!... There has been notable creation by individuals in most fields, but movements or trends of late from America = what?

. Fashion: Americans can never be elegant because of how they live. ALTHOUGH the MOST MODERN and SIGNIFICANT trend has come out of America: GAP = sportswear. Ingenious! It is the only instance when America is truly elegant. But step away from that or go beyond it = forget about it! Hopeless. This is the only country where immensely wealthy movie stars of iconic status are practically dressed for FREE and STILL manage to look like shit 4 of 5 times they show up in public.

. Q: Is blogging a noteworthy American trend at the dawn of the 21st century? Or will the Chinese take over in the latter 1/2?

Re: shrewd observations. I agree

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

A very thoughtful and articulate response, my friend. I hope to continue on my quest to make contributions to a creative society. I am willing to do the work ... to search for the inspiration ...

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

My first thought was of empires too, but this guy was speaking about democracy as a form of government. I don't necessarily agree, but there are parts of his argument that have merit. The sad thing is that the part of the article I did not post borrowed from his philosophy and injected it into the illegal alien debate. I found it detestable.

Big Hugs and thanks for offering your opinion!

Raising Hand.

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

I live in Houston. Feel Free to come down and have a cup of coffee. (really. it would be nice to have a cup of coffee or lunch with you)

Re: Raising Hand.

[gaugetx.livejournal.com]

Drew???? Hey there guy. LOL Fancy running into you in Neil's journal.Adding you to my friends list.

Re: Raising Hand.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

His real life twin is isitandlookout:)

Re: Raising Hand.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the invite!

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

One of my design prof.s in college had this theory about the cycle of civilization, that I kinda like: There are 4 parts of a full cycle that each last about 47 years. They consist on the rustic, the formative the classical and the decadent periods. We are currently in the beginning stasges of the latest rustic period.

Nice to think we'll be the shapers of the next classical era!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Let's hope he is right!

[becker-boy.livejournal.com]

I guess the real question you might be asking is:

Is America on a road that will eventually lead to the abandonment of democratic principles in exchange for the promise of affluence and security. Is such a outcome preventable, or is it inevitable?

Some Americans are quick to buy in to the fantasy that our system of government is somehow bullet-proof...I have never been one of those people. Your posting is simplistic, yes...BUT the possibilities it presents are no less frightening to me because of that simplicity...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Again, we are in perfect agreement. It's why I posted part of the forwarded article ...

HUGS!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Of course there are cycles, though I'm not enough of a shrewd historian to have figured them out. Obviously we're in an overseas quagmire - again. It's familiar because I was personally involved in the last one.
But then it also seems that America has some unique ability to get back on track once it slides to some far extreme. The pendulum swings... it do. Winston Churchill is supposed to have said, referring to democracy: "Oh, it's a perfectly terrible system of governing... but all the others are much worse!"
I think I subscribe to the view posted by bearhedded ... though after "classic rock" I have no idea what the next version of "classic' might be !

Were you really listening to "Of Thee I Sing?" ... I was just singing it in the car this morning... sorry for the sour notes (cue the Twilight Zone music) ;0)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Let's hope your optimism is justified and that America gets back on track. I am hoping mightily that the pendulum is swinging ... I do:)

I was listening to "Of Thee I Sing" on Sirius the day of the post.

Hope you had a wonderful day of thanks ... HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I was thinking "seven" myself, but I do see how a case could be made for eight.

Btw, I really like the new icon!!! How youthful and handsome you look!!

Big HUGS!