Even though the progression described by Tytle seems to be confirmed by history, could there be another outcome?  If we could understand the drivers that move us to the next step, then perhaps we could break the cycle! Is it possible, or is our nation doomed to tyranny?

Looking at the life cycle, there are 4 steps to the rise and 4 steps to the fall of democratic societies.  One could divide the circle into two with a straight line up and down.  There is commonality to the four items on the right(rise) and a different commonality to 4 items on the left(fall).  Understanding this explains the pivot point from rise to fall.

In society, there is individual virtue.  Virtuous choices are ones made according to the natural law as embodied in Matthew 22;34-40: Love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself.  When taken as a whole, societal virtue is a composite of its members’ virtue (or lack thereof).

In the rise of nations, societal virtue is growing and becoming stronger. First is faith and the search for unity among the people.  The Second is courage born of faith and unity.  Next is liberty, which manifests in a people united in faith, who then have the courage and numbers to break the tyrannical bondage.  As society rises, the measure of societal virtue also rises.

In the life cycle of nations, it becomes obvious that the rise of nations occurs during the period when faith and the practice of the Golden Rule are strong and growing. It is also obvious that the demise of nations follows when they are abandoned by more than half of society. This results in a situation where neighbors steal from neighbors and foster other immoral acts under the protection of the government controlled by the now immoral majority. Here are two examples: the taking of innocent life in abortion and the legitimized theft inherent in entitlement and other programs designed for the political benefit of government officials and not for the common good.

In the fall of nations, we see a gradual abandonment of the virtues, followed by an increasingly rapid pursuit of the vices.  This marginalizes God and abandons the Golden Rule, thereby largely diminishing Grace. We are then left to the influences of evil.

Very simply, it is Grace that supports the rise of nations.  Without Grace, nations collapse.  Without faith, the practice of the Golden Rule is gone and is replaced by selfishness.  And without the Golden Rule, the flow of Grace is halted, and societies move to narcissism, violence, and irresponsibility, eroding the pillars of society until they collapse!

It is not hard to see that as a nation, America has moved past the mid-point.  Selfishness abounds, and dependence is becoming the norm for an increasing part of our society.  I fear for where we are heading with apparent haste!