Another cause was the fact that First Leader fought many wars, bringing the nation to the verge of bankruptcy, and Second Leader supported the dissidents during another country’s Revolution, exacerbating the precarious financial condition of the government. The national debt amounted to almost two billion [dollars, this was from a long time ago]. The social burdens caused by war included the huge war debt, made worse by the leadership’s military failures and ineptitude, and the lack of social services for war veterans. The inefficient and antiquated financial system was unable to manage the national debt, something which was both caused and exacerbated by the burden of a grossly inequitable system of taxation. Another cause was the continued conspicuous consumption of the rich, especially the [White House and Congressional leadership], despite the financial burden on the populace. High unemployment and high bread prices caused more money to be spent on food and less in other areas of the economy. There was too little internal trade and too many customs barriers.
While the above is eerily similar to the United States of America in 2009, the nation in question is France, circa 1789.
Yes, the above comes from the Wikipedia entry for the French Revolution.
“Those that do not know history are doomed to repeat it” only becomes even scarier in this light, does it not?
I would have guessed the USA in about 5 years or so, I was reading the Declaration of Independence last night and it reminded me of just how many basic natural laws our government no break daily……..great site!