Similarities Between Rome And America

There are many questions that need to be answered when trying to extrapolate future events from historical ones. The biggest question is whether or not the situations are similar enough to gain any real insight. No situation is exactly the same, and every outcome will be slightly different, but if two situations are close enough then significant similarities will exist in their outcomes.

Politically it can be argued that America is currently in a position very similar to Imperial Rome. Both nations are the military superpower of the known world, but neither one has zero opposition. From the Brittonic tribes to the Visigoths later on, Rome had many enemies powerful through numbers and zeal. America has several enemies as well, from religious

While it is hard to link Roman emperors to any government officials, the comparison can be made with the extremely wealthy Americans who can influence politics. In both Rome and America the wealthiest individuals have huge sway in political activity, with Roman bribery and corruption closely matching American bribery of officials. Look to rising campaign costs in the last three decades, or the distribution of campaign donations and bill support. This doesn't even touch on lobbyists, one of the problems that gets the most media

The first thing we can expect to see is a rise in economic inequality, civil strife, and ultimately violence and violent crimes. Roman inequality was massive, but they had a class that bore most of the hardships. The slaves of imperial Rome allowed inequality to rise to extraordinary levels, as they had no power to object, until the slave war burst through. The slave war may have started with gladiators, but it was the average slave that truly made the numbers. While America doesn't have slaves, a common Marxist term "wage slavery" is starting to rear its head. With the purchasing power of the minimum wage at an all time low, and the cost of the nearly mandatory college degree at an all time high, many individuals struggle to earn a decent living. Just as slaves in Rome revolted, the struggling Americans are beginning to make their voices heard.

With an increase in civil strife the stock market will have a significant dip, and violent crime will continue to rise. Police will become more jaded, and stricter laws and policies will be implemented to control the masses. As the conflict between law enforcement and the populace increase, massive political upheaval will begin to occur. States will gain representatives that support the average American, and the wealthy will begin to flex their monetary