[brokencode]

It seems to be unwritten law of all societies that they will eventually splinter into factions and self destruct. This is perhaps the greatest threat that humans have ever faced, and possibly one that we will never solve.

Humans just seem fundamentally incapable of living without conflict, even to the extent of creating vast conspiracy theories like QAnon to have something to be enraged about.

Recent months have been a wake up call for me that the United States could go the way of Rome or countless other historical superpowers, and it might even be inevitable. I just hope it doesn’t happen during my lifetime.

[hilbert42]

Tragically, I agree with you and I wish it weren't so.

I would only add that democracies seem to be at their most stable when inequality is at a minimum and everyone is treated with decency, fairness and respect.

It seems to me that since the early 1980s we've veered from this course and we need to correct it. We need review and renew our ethics along those lines and to do so we need trust and honesty from everyone especially bureaucrats and politicians. What I'm afraid of is that we've not the collective will to do so.

[ricc]

> It seems to be unwritten law of all societies that they will eventually splinter into factions and self destruct. This is perhaps the greatest threat that humans have ever faced, and possibly one that we will never solve.

> Humans just seem fundamentally incapable of living without conflict, even to the extent of creating vast conspiracy theories like QAnon to have something to be enraged about.

I've been part of so many online communities and even those formed for the most mundane of hobbies still manage to find something to fight about. In one pipe smoking forum, one petty incident of comparing the "bad-assery" of smoking cigars and the "lameness" of smoking pipes developed into actual personal conflicts.