Alexander Tytler, a Scottish historian who lived at the same time as the American Founding Fathers, who described a repeating cycle in history. He had found that societies went through this same cycle again and again, and that the cycle lasted roughly 200 years each time. Tytler said the cycle starts out with a society in bondage. Then it goes in this sequence:
Bondage
Spiritual Faith
Courage
Liberty
Abundance
Selfishness
Complacency
Apathy
Dependence
Then starting over with Bondage
http://projectlibertyutah.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-is-tytler-cycle-where-is-united.html
What Is the Tytler Cycle? Where Is the United States In This Cycle?
Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Ps104_33, Nov 13, 2008.
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This may be moved to history department if so desired.
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I think we are somewhere between complacency and dependance. But I tend to be an optimist.
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I'd agree with Mexdeaf, somewhere between complacency and dependence....
Ah, but who cares?
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Come January, we'll be at dependance with bondage breathing down our necks.
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We are in Apathy moving towards Dependence.
Interesting concept. -
If I'm remembering correctly, the dependence stage begins when a nation reaches 40 - 45% of the people receiving aid from the public treasury. So that would put us at dependence already. I guess the "change" that's coming is bondage.
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We are rapidly moving along in dependency and headed for bondage.
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I'd say we're in the Apathy stage. Here's a question. When did the U.S. move from Abundance to Selfishness? -
The 80's were all about selfishness. -
Crabtownboy Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I do not believe the cycle is fixed. A culture can move in the reverse order. For instance the "bobbie soxer" generation was said to be apathetic, but they were followed by a very rebellous generation. There is much more searching for spirituality now than just in the 60's or 70's IMHO. The beatniks played around with spirituality, but not really seriously ... even that was all about me. I was born at the end of the quiet generation, the one between the depression generation and the baby boomers. -
Are you talking about the counter-culture people in the 60's or their parents? -
Their parents - now retired - have come to believe that they are owed everything - a middle class life style, retirement to Florida, free health care, free medical prescriptions, etc. - all at the expense of the taxpayer through social security.
Their children expect a brand new car the second they obtain a driver's license, the newest computer upgrade, an ipod, a cell phone, a digital camera, designer brand clothes, etc. - all at the expense of their parents.