Next in Line?

We Americans instinctively rely on our history of moving past each new era and overcoming each new national challenge. We are a supremely self-confident nation--not just because of what we have accomplished, but as much because of a resulting sense of annointing and entitlement. But today's challenges come from the weaknesses and failings of unquestioned self-confidence, undisciplined self-indulgence, and abdicated leadership--as individuals and elected representatives, as a government and nation. And it comes as much from that miscast claim to annointing or entitlement. We can only hope that history does not place us next in that line of great nations and empires that failed for those very same reasons.

GH