What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Jacob]

Seeing some stuff about a the US Federal Reserve injecting liquidity right now. Is it significant, or is the concern just internet froth?

[The Minsky Moment]

The Fed started up temporary treasury purchases in the repurchase market late in 2025.  They did 30 billion around Halloween and another 30 billion on December 31, and some smaller numbers in between.  Last night was 18.5 billion, so in the same ballpark.  It's not clear why they've been doing it, various speculations why. 18.5 billion isn't a massive sum in relation to the treasury market.

[Jacob]

Thank you

[Tonitrus]

Is he aware both Athens and Rome did, in fact, decline?

Don't tell him about Gibbon's thesis. His head might explode.

Rome fell because of the enemy within, the Christians. No wait, Christianity is a force for good, the empire didn't fall but merely evolved, taking ideas and influences from illegal immigrants.  No wait, that's not it either. It fell because of economic reasons, yes. The huge gap between rich and poor, the fabulously wealthy people in power enriching themselves no no wait...

Wasn't Rome very much influenced by the Vandals, Goths, Visigoths, Huns, etc...? 

[Valmy]

Wasn't Rome very much influenced by the Vandals, Goths, Visigoths, Huns, etc...? 

When it comes to the Germans it marked a key breakdown for how the Empire worked by their inability to incorporate the Germans into the Imperial system. If they had allowed Germans to be Emperor for example. But, for whatever reason, the hatred between Roman and German could never be overcome.

[crazy canuck]

Wasn't Rome very much influenced by the Vandals, Goths, Visigoths, Huns, etc...? 

When it comes to the Germans it marked a key breakdown for how the Empire worked by their inability to incorporate the Germans into the Imperial system. If they had allowed Germans to be Emperor for example. But, for whatever reason, the hatred between Roman and German could never be overcome.

The "whatever reason" had a lot to do with first inviting them in; asking them to settle in the Balkans; then saying Nope - changed our minds.

Actually, thinking about it, the current US regime might have a point that there is a direct link between them and Rome.  The similarities regarding the degree to which they can be relied upon as allies are undeniable.

[Razgovory]

Foreign workers putting Romans out of work was certainly a factor?

What has happened to the American educational system?

The lack of further conquests and so the lack of additional slaves and the spoils of war enriching Romans is a bit better of an explanation.

Oh, please explain why the lack of conquests caused the Republic to fall.  I am all ears.

[HVC]

Don't let Mark Antony find out.

[Razgovory]

Back to the sort of point . . . if one is going to place Christianity at the heart of "Western Civilization" it means placing the broader Levant - a crescent from Asia minor through Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, the Hedjaz, Yemen, and Egypt - into a central position in that civilization.  And if you do that, you have to accept that Islam is a core aspect of "Western Civilization" so conceived.  Which defeats the whole point these people have for using the concept.

I don't think this is necessary.  The West is Christian, but Christianity isn't exclusively Western. It was part of a previous civilization that collapsed.  Western civilization was simply one of several that inherited Christianity.  

[Valmy]

Foreign workers putting Romans out of work was certainly a factor?

What has happened to the American educational system?

The lack of further conquests and so the lack of additional slaves and the spoils of war enriching Romans is a bit better of an explanation.

Oh, please explain why the lack of conquests caused the Republic to fall.  I am all ears.

No it was very much the opposite of that that caused the Republic to fall 

Well sort of. The rich Romans didn't need the poor Romans anymore.

[Razgovory]

Come now, I think CC can explain this himself.

[grumbler]

People here seem to be confusing the "fall of the Roman Republic" and the "fall of the Roman Empire."

The Republic fell, IMO, because the quaint political and economic organization of the Republic couldn't handle the consequences of having created an empire.

The causes of the fall of the Empire are, as has been noted, multiple and complex.

[Norgy]

Yeah, that first "fall" was probably more of a palace coup where it could have been either Pompey or Julius Caesar.

The long-winded fall of the empire built by Augustus is rather complex, and I am unsure as to whether there is a lot to learn from it except that you should probably vet your military units at least a little. Oh. And pay them.

Then again, you remember all this, grumbler. 

[Jacob]

Supreme Court rules Trump overstepped by imposing tariffs.

Now what?

[HisMajestyBOB]

Yeah, that first "fall" was probably more of a palace coup where it could have been either Pompey or Julius Caesar.

The long-winded fall of the empire built by Augustus is rather complex, and I am unsure as to whether there is a lot to learn from it except that you should probably vet your military units at least a little. Oh. And pay them.

Then again, you remember all this, grumbler. 

The multiple rounds of civil war and revolving door of emperors probably didn't help, either.