US criticises Germany growth model

[Bunk]

loosing

I sometimes wonder if you're doing this deliberately.

Then I realise you're not.

[scooterscot]

For the drivel psoetd on hree who cears abuot sepllnig? Really it's so no worth the effort.

[Old Greg]

Who's disagreeing?

For all that's happening in the us with corrupt banks, pyramid schemes / QE robbing savers of their sweat and tears, NSA hooked up to every line of communication there is, illegal wars etc etc.

It seems to me the last days of the roman empire all over again, slinging mud at every opportunity.

What did the Roman Empire sling mud at in its last days?

[scooterscot]

What did the Roman Empire sling mud at in its last days?

not wot who.

in the last days of the empire. Extra coins in the pocket will make soldiers think of the good times they can have. Large discharge payments of either silver or land means a smart soldier is less likely to reenlist.

At the same time, when the empire did try to expand, it used up silver and gold, yet gained no new silver or gold mines to replace the old, exhausted ones. Its coinage, having started out as pure silver, now was less than pure. Britain had been invaded on the hopes of finding such treasure, but it was found to be worthless (no insult meant). For Rome to withdraw from a new province would be a sign of weakness. No matter how much it hurt to keep and no matter how many legions it tied up once taken a province was not to be given up without a fight.

Sound like a country we know?

It's the way of balance if you're struggling to grow against your competitors at all costs, QE and the like, then you attack your competitors. This behaviour was similarly observed at the time of aggressive expensive of the empire before a dramatic fall.

[Old Greg]

not wot who.



Sound like a country we know?

It's the way of balance if you're struggling to grow against your competitors at all costs, QE and the like, then you attack your competitors. This behaviour was similarly observed at the time of aggressive expensive of the empire before a dramatic fall.

IIRC there is a fascinating scholarly article called something like 'The nadir of the Antoninianus in the reign of Claudius II' if you are interested in debasement. But you rather miss the point.

Britain was invaded over 400 years before the fall of the Western empire. And there was never really an economic rationale. It was more likely about geopolitics and the standing of Claudius I as a leader.

The currency debasement reached its real low point in the middle of the third century crisis. And in any case if precious metals had been found, it would not have solved the economic and political crisis. The Diocletianic reforms made a reasonable job of stopping the rot.

The Roman Empire's last expansionist adventures (with the odd exception lime Julian's expedition to Persia) were 350 years befoe the fall of the Western Empire.

A sensible analysis of the fall of the Western Empire is based upon the de-Romanisation of the military with the use of barbarian 'guests' who by a quirk of history were Arian rather than Catholic Chrisitians. These groups, excluded from integration because other faith, eventually set up their own kingdoms within the empire. There were also some nasty shocks that exacerbated the decline such as the Battle of Adrianople.

However, if you want a comparison with the US today, there are some interesting social and cultural ideas around the decline of literacy and the growth of religious cults.

[Old Greg]

At least the Romans weren't in hock to the Vandals, Goths & Visigoths in quite the way the Septics are to the Chinese.

No, but they were in very senior positions in the army. Odoacer eventually deposed the Western emperor and set himself up as king of the Italians.

[scooterscot]

However, if you want a comparison with the US today, there are some interesting social and cultural ideas around the decline of literacy and the growth of religious cults.

That I can believe.

[Ticktock]

there are some interesting social and cultural ideas around the decline of literacy and the growth of religious cults.

That I can believe.

Me too. Which cult are you in scooter?

[scooterscot]

Me too. Which cult are you in scooter?

I think Del boy would have charged more for that cheap shot.