Countries follow a lengthy, predictable course.
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage.
Countries peak fairly early. Citizens flourish, trumpets blare, and God sheds his light on thee. In a few generations, everyone puts their Faith in the national Hype. Everything will always get better because the Society is so unique and glorious and brilliant. A skip or two later, everyone is so comfortable they can be manipulated with promises of greater comfort at no expense. The meanings of the words found in the Eight Stages of History become muddled through misuse, ignorance, and poltical-minded education. The comfortable, ignorant society begins to implode under its own weight. Everyone wants the reward but no one wants the responsibility. Dependence becomes the norm.
The thoughts of my cousin John Duffy
A very talented Irishman
