Regarding Michael B. Lumbard’s Aug. 1 letter, “Classic tale recurring,” he may have read Edward Gibbon’s “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” but he didn’t learn much about the subject. Rome didn’t fall because of unsustainable entitlement programs, it fell because of incompetent leadership, corruption, ease and an abandonment of Roman values. Of course, anyone who hasn’t read the three volumes might believe a Republican right-wing talking-point interpretation of the work. I suppose that if you haven’t read Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” I can probably convince you that it’s about a group of female midgets.
Rome fell because a succession of inept emperors bought their way to the throne, much like today when the candidate with the most money to spend usually wins. Rome fell because senators were easily bought and concerned themselves with their own interests above those of the empire and people. Rome fell because the army stopped enlisting Roman citizens and came to depend on mercenaries.
Rome fell because Rome abandoned Roman values: of senate and people and of a disciplined, well-trained and well-supplied Roman army. America is now in a state of decline. If it falls, it will be for the same reasons Rome fell, and entitlements had nothing to do with it.
Joel Littauer
Vancouver
