The Question

We know that individual people can and do get sick, and die, and we tend to assume the same thing about civilization, although observing it and proving it and seeing it are more difficult when considering whole civilizations. We tend to think that the Roman empire ceased to exist, although actually it evolved into something else. WE say that the Mayan civilization "ceased to exist", though for all we know there are  some  Mayan descendents running around somewhere today. Native American civilization still exists, sorta.

At least we can agree that civilizations, countries,can and do undergo great changes over time, some of which, but not all of which, are beneficial.  Is the "America" of today better or preferrable in any way to the "America" of 500 years ago? That's a matter of opinion. But it is certain that the current U.S.A. came into existence only with the essential destruction of an existing civilization.

What might eventually come to replace the United States of America, and all the other countries of  our current  global civilization?  Too soon to tell.

But one thing is certain; countries and civilizations do not want to die. It may not even be necessary that they die, but in this horrendous world they do, and they sure don't want to. Ask anyone.

Exactly what are the forces at work today in modern America which help strengthen our current civilization, and what forces are tending to destroy it? That, alas, is the question. Let us seek for answers.