RE: Buh-bye

This isn't the first time you've made that assertion, so I decided to look it up.

Reasons for the fall of the Western Roman Empire (the Eastern, or Byzantium lasted until the sack of Constantinople in the 15th century):

• Decay-- "But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and, as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight.... The victorious legions, who, in distant wars, acquired the vices of strangers and mercenaries, first oppressed the freedom of the republic, and afterwards violated the majesty of the purple. The emperors, anxious for their personal safety and the public peace, were reduced to the base expedient of corrupting the discipline which rendered them alike formidable to their sovereign and to the enemy; the vigour of the military government was relaxed, and finally dissolved, by the partial institutions of Constantine; and the Roman world was overwhelmed by a deluge of Barbarians."

• Christianity-- "Although the path from Pagan to Christian Rome had a few more hurdles, it was from the time of Constantine that Roman Christianity is dated. At this early point, however, the emperors retained the power to appoint bishops. Over time, Church leaders became influential and took away power from the emperor. Christian beliefs conflicted with the working of empire. "

• Vandals and Religious Controversy-- "Roman citizens living outside of Italy identified with Rome much less than their Italian counterparts. They preferred to live as natives, even if this meant poverty, which in turn meant turning to those who could help -- Germans, brigands, Christians, etc."

• Leadership Problems-- "Because the East survived when the West collapsed, institutional weakness and barbarian invasions, conditions common to both halves, are insufficient explanation for the Fall of Rome. Instead, Elton says the cause of the Fall of lies financial difficulties only the West faced. The best single explanation would be poor leadership rather than military failure."

• The Dole and Barbarians-- "Millions spent on bread (including pork by the end of the second century) and circuses for the non-working poor. Barbarians ruled Rome and even when a Roman, Diocletian, regained control, he was influenced by the East. With Constantine came a barbaric Christianity and the move of the Empire's center from Rome to Constantinople."

• Economic, Military, Gradual-- "economic (lack of circulating currency and trade deficit, and other factors not clearly economic, like environmental change and decaying infrastructure), military (citizenship granted to all reduced the incentive to join the army), and gradual transformation (it never fell or fell to Islam)."

• Economic - Hoarding and Deficit-- "One of the primary catalysts to the deterioration of the economy was the lack of circulating currency in the Western Empire. Two reasons for the lack of funds are wholesale hoarding of bullion by Roman citizens, and the widespread looting of the Roman treasury by the "barbarians". These two factors, coupled with the massive trade deficit with Eastern Regions of the Empire served to stifle the growth of wealth in the west"

But you're right, it was probably just Christianity.

I don't remember a lynch mob. Rather, I remember the reaction, in general, being a soap-opera-like interest in the drama, but an overall apathetic attitude towards the fact that the President cheated on his wife. The act was portrayed as controversial, but yet somehow "progressive." The President was "hip" for being sexual.

In the end, though, the sexuality isn't what bothers me about it, but the dishonesty. Yes, I think it immoral to engage in such behavior outside of wedlock, but it matters more that a President is honest and respectful. Keeping marriage vows and the manner in which one carries his/her personal relationships is just as good of a "litmus test" for such as anything else of which I can think.

Even so, I still think people put too much stock in the event. If Clinton was performing his official duties adeptly, his personal life really matters very little in comparison. Yes, it would be good if I could tell my (future) children to emulate the President, but children also need to be taught that just because a person makes a good President (or boss, teacher, friend, etc.) doesn't mean their morals are desirable. No doubt there are aspects of their personality which allow them to succeed in what they do, and those aspects should be admired, but they are not necessarily representative of the entirety of their morality.

I'm trying to decide if your ego is matched by your naïveté. Probably not.

Our problems stem from the greed and decadence that has consumed our culture. The vast majority of the people in this country care about just one thing - their own pampered little selves. The pursuit of the next shinier cell phone and whining about whatever "injustice" the media has made the pet project of the month means more to your average American than the concepts of honor, integrity or service to the country. Gone are the days of "I regret I have but one life to give for my country" or "ask not what your country can do for you." What we have instead are politicians who's sole purpose in life is to make it through the election to keep cashing that paycheck. Never would they make the hard decision to do whats right for their people - instead they do what is popular.

And, at the end of the day, our average self-serving American will complain about how horrible it is that we're holding terrorists without trial. They complain not because they really care, but now they can go to sleep with a clear conscience, believing that they have in some way supported a purer idea.

But in the end, they sleep peacefully because somebody - that very President that tapped your wires - realizes that the world is not a friendly place and has set about trying to secure our way of life. All the little sheep back home can go about their lives blissfully unaware of what the real world is like, and guys like scottb can complain about "imperialism" and "military conquest."