in technology, and in our ability to solve problems. More; a renewed belief that technology *solves* problems, rather than causes them.
Truth of the matter is, the U.S., and the western world with it, is at the "empire" stage of the Roman republic. When Rome was a republic, it was strong, healthy, vibrant, intolerant and growing. After it became an empire, it was slothful, self-indulgent, and overly tolerant. (I use 'tolerant' here to refer to codes of behavior and concrete ideas of right-and-wrong (even if they're wrong) vs "anything goes".)
The empire collapsed and was overrun by barbarians who looted among the ruins for a thousand years. But, aftewards came the renaissance, and eventually the moonwalk. So, the long-lived may have something to look forward to beyond the turning of this cycle. 8c)
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