History Doesn’t Repeat—But It Rhymes: Why The Roman Republic’s Fall Should Worry Us

“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” — Mark Twain

As a Navy veteran, lifelong student of history, and someone who’s spent decades navigating complex systems in the business world, I’ve always believed that pattern recognition is one of the most underrated skills we can cultivate. That’s why I wrote this new white paper: History Rhymes: What the Fall of the Roman Republic Tells Us About American Polarization.

It’s not alarmist, and it’s not a screed. It’s a sober, sourced, and accessible comparison between the late stages of the Roman Republic and the growing dysfunction in today’s American democracy.

Rome didn’t fall in a single coup—it frayed over decades. Economic disparity, elite corruption, political violence, and populist spectacle slowly unraveled a system that had lasted five centuries. I explore how:

• The destruction of Carthage brought wealth and inequality that hollowed out Rome’s middle class. Sound familiar?
• Political norms broke down. Roman leaders weaponized mobs. Today, we’ve seen January 6.
• Populists rose, but didn’t always prevail. Trump is no Julius Caesar, but his impact may have cleared the road for someone who could be.
• The Roman Republic ignored its last chances for reform. Do we still have time?

This paper isn’t a history lesson for the sake of nostalgia. It’s a roadmap and a warning.

📄 Read the full essay on my Substack here:
History Rhymes: What the Fall of the Roman Republic Tells Us About American Polarization

📝 For context, I’ve also previously written about Trump and Charles X—a Bourbon king whose stubbornness paved the way for a different kind of revolution.

Sometimes, history is a mirror. Other times, it’s a caution sign. Let’s not ignore either.