Are we headed the way of Rome?

A Word from the Lord Dr. Foley Beach

For the first time in modern U.S, history, the United States Government is paying out more money, in cash, to citizens, than it is taking in taxes.
The U.S. spent $2.3 trillion on specific benefits to citizens last year, while the government's total income was only $2.2 trillion.
Roughly 60% of all Americans now receive some significant financial benefit from the government.
Less than 50% of all people pay any federal income taxes. And roughly 10% of all taxpayers (those called the rich) foot virtually all the significant income taxes levied.
For the first time in U.S. history our National Debt (over $14 Trillion) is more than the GDP (total economic production) and our National budget discourse continues to include enormous deficits.
The answers we hear from our politicians are: tax the rich more (as if they have a lot more to tax!) or cut the budget (which means cutting government jobs and/or government payouts causing violent protests from those affected!).
The following quote is attributed to Marcus Cicero, Roman Senator, "The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt, the mobs should be forced to work and not depend on government for subsistence." Not sure if he actually said it, but Rome paid no attention.
How about this from Alexander Tytler, a Scottish historian from the late 1700s: “A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”
If you believe in the power of prayer, it is time to get serious about interceding for our country, our leaders, our fellow citizens, and our churches. It is my opinion that unless God intervenes in a miraculous, supernatural way, we will fall into an abyss like the U.S. has never known. Pray. Pray. Pray. Ask God to help us, even in our ignorant and unrepentant state. Ask Him to send revival and spiritual renewal. Like on Good Friday when all seemed hopeless, Sunday came and God changed everything. Let's ask him to do it again. He told a people of another time: “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Foley Beach is bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South and the rector and pastor of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville. His A Word from the Lord radio broadcast can be heard in Gwinnett County each Sunday morning at 8:30 on WGKA (920 AM) and 10:00 on WMOQ (92.3 FM), or anytime at www.awordfromthelord.org.