Thanks Tim and greatly appreciate the article by Sir John Grubb. The interesting table on the duration of empires is real food for thought. Looks as though 250 years is a pretty good run. The US will reach this milestone in 2 years. I think I may have found the problem in society today from Sir John. He writes:
"Boys’ schools are intentionally rough. Fru- gal eating, hard living, breaking the ice tohave a bath and similar customs are aimed at producing a strong, hardy and fearless breed of men. Duty is the word constantly drummed into the heads of young people."
I don't think that there are any schools like this any more! Gordonstoun in the old days was probably one. I may start one like this here in the Snowy Mountains!
Sir John's stages of empires seem to be correct: "Past empires show almost every possible
variation of political system, but all go through the same procedure from the Age of Pioneers through Conquest, Commerce, Affluence to decline and collapse."
I need to find en empire in the stage of affluence - any tips?
PS Really appreciate the remarkable lecture from Darwin College - there are many implications
I am unaware of any worldly empires in the age of affluence - but on a somewhat related and more positive note I increasingly get the sense that there is an Age of Awakening beginning. Humanity is waking up to decades if not centuries of lies and corruption. People are becoming more conscious.
Hello Reuben, I'm afraid that every thing you say that has gone to the dogs in Britain has indeed gone to the dogs. The intolerable need to self censor in almost any company but particularly female and younger people is an ever increasing phenomenon.
As for the threat constituted by untrammeled immigration, particularly by the followers of Islam, we simply seem to be sleep walking toward our own destruction. What the next five years will be like under Commissar Starmer who is not only deeply committed to collective ideology but also a former WEF young global leader and member of the Tri-Lateral commission Lord knows.
I suppose we have to reach rock bottom before we can start to rise again but given the extraordinary amounts of bureaucratic organisations already led by followers of Islam I wonder if we will rise again as a Christian country.
I was hoping Hugh that some UK readers would tell me I was wrong and that all looks well there. We are following suit here in Australia and rushing toward the cliff - or perhaps the cliff is rushing toward us. It seems very unfortunate that such is the incompetence of the Conservatives that Sir Keir has a clear run without any need to explain his policies.
You're right Christian. I heard a very interesting interview with one of Javier Millei's supporters and Millei is definitely having a go at unpicking the administrative state and has taken up the tools that he has. However, with so many "snouts in the trough", it is hard to see him being successful in the medium term but I hope I am wrong. I agree about the Tele - there is some excellent writing and I always enjoy Madeline Grant. There seems a lot of pain ahead before voters come to their senses.
Thanks Tim and greatly appreciate the article by Sir John Grubb. The interesting table on the duration of empires is real food for thought. Looks as though 250 years is a pretty good run. The US will reach this milestone in 2 years. I think I may have found the problem in society today from Sir John. He writes:
"Boys’ schools are intentionally rough. Fru- gal eating, hard living, breaking the ice tohave a bath and similar customs are aimed at producing a strong, hardy and fearless breed of men. Duty is the word constantly drummed into the heads of young people."
I don't think that there are any schools like this any more! Gordonstoun in the old days was probably one. I may start one like this here in the Snowy Mountains!
Sir John's stages of empires seem to be correct: "Past empires show almost every possible
variation of political system, but all go through the same procedure from the Age of Pioneers through Conquest, Commerce, Affluence to decline and collapse."
I need to find en empire in the stage of affluence - any tips?
PS Really appreciate the remarkable lecture from Darwin College - there are many implications
I am unaware of any worldly empires in the age of affluence - but on a somewhat related and more positive note I increasingly get the sense that there is an Age of Awakening beginning. Humanity is waking up to decades if not centuries of lies and corruption. People are becoming more conscious.
Hello Reuben, I'm afraid that every thing you say that has gone to the dogs in Britain has indeed gone to the dogs. The intolerable need to self censor in almost any company but particularly female and younger people is an ever increasing phenomenon.
As for the threat constituted by untrammeled immigration, particularly by the followers of Islam, we simply seem to be sleep walking toward our own destruction. What the next five years will be like under Commissar Starmer who is not only deeply committed to collective ideology but also a former WEF young global leader and member of the Tri-Lateral commission Lord knows.
I suppose we have to reach rock bottom before we can start to rise again but given the extraordinary amounts of bureaucratic organisations already led by followers of Islam I wonder if we will rise again as a Christian country.
I was hoping Hugh that some UK readers would tell me I was wrong and that all looks well there. We are following suit here in Australia and rushing toward the cliff - or perhaps the cliff is rushing toward us. It seems very unfortunate that such is the incompetence of the Conservatives that Sir Keir has a clear run without any need to explain his policies.
If Argentina is an indication of how bad things have to get before “cometh the hour cometh the man” plays out, then we have a long way to go.
I too subscribe to the UK Tele as it beats most of the drivel that passes for journalism in this country. And very cheap :)
Good post
A very insightful read that was! Thank you for your work.
Another superb - if sobering - analysis. For context I recommend 'The Fate of Empires' by Sir John Glubb (an easy read): https://people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf
As Adam Smith once observed, there's a great deal of ruin in a nation.
You're right Christian. I heard a very interesting interview with one of Javier Millei's supporters and Millei is definitely having a go at unpicking the administrative state and has taken up the tools that he has. However, with so many "snouts in the trough", it is hard to see him being successful in the medium term but I hope I am wrong. I agree about the Tele - there is some excellent writing and I always enjoy Madeline Grant. There seems a lot of pain ahead before voters come to their senses.
Great post. Thank you.