https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/10/michael-s-rozeff/decline-and-fall/
There is a necessary condition for the empire to be vulnerable to decline, which Fears pinpoints: “Only those invested with enormous power can commit the sin of hybris.” The empire cannot decline and fall unless the political system has already concentrated enormous power at its apex, in just a few men or even one man. Misuse of power can’t occur without the power being present. This is a fault of the American system of government. The checks and balances have failed. The check provided by the American public and electorate has failed. Power is concentrated at the top.
This concentration of power is a necessary condition for failure. Is it sufficient? Does the very concentration of power induce the hybris? Does that concentration of power attract the most arrogant candidates (OP inserts ( Donald Trump ?)) as prospective leaders? There is an excellent chance that it does, in which case the system selects the very men and women most likely to cause its downfall.
There is a necessary condition for the empire to be vulnerable to decline, which Fears pinpoints: “Only those invested with enormous power can commit the sin of hybris.” The empire cannot decline and fall unless the political system has already concentrated enormous power at its apex, in just a few men or even one man. Misuse of power can’t occur without the power being present. This is a fault of the American system of government. The checks and balances have failed. The check provided by the American public and electorate has failed. Power is concentrated at the top.
This concentration of power is a necessary condition for failure. Is it sufficient? Does the very concentration of power induce the hybris? Does that concentration of power attract the most arrogant candidates (OP inserts ( Donald Trump ?)) as prospective leaders? There is an excellent chance that it does, in which case the system selects the very men and women most likely to cause its downfall.