Believe it or not you are all doomed and the source of this doomsday has been found. It is skyscrappers or in other words affulence. When a nation can afford to build skyscrappers doomsday is not far away. Is it arrogance that causes a nation to invest in tall buildings, the harbringers of doom?
Curse of the skyscrapers (http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/luxury/curse-of-the-skyscrapers-20120117-1q419.html)

Even the mighty have been subject to the curse.

Shhhh... don't tell China!

Tower of Babel in the bible,

Well that's one more warning we didn't heed

In China's case ,they are building Potamkin skyscrapers.
I believe the Empire State Building was privately funded.

It had some vacancies during the depression ;but part of the problem was it's relative proximity to the subways and trains... The Chrysler building.. (also built with private funds ).. that was built at the same time in a competition to build the world's tallest building, was closer to the trains and did not suffer the same depression effect.

Both buildings are marvels despite the fact that they are no longer the world's tallest. It is worth visiting them when you are in NY just the see the art deco style design.

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Missed the moment, Tom, it isn't about relative depression it is about a general malaise following the building of one of these things so it only needs one per city, country for the curse to operate.

It doesn't matter whose money is used although on balance China may be exempt because government money is used, no profit motive

There is no doubt you can suck the life out of a lighter moment without even trying:confused:

Being exposed to you for too long;I've developed the Aussie sense of humor. But I agree... the premise of the article is inane.. there is no correlation.

I don't know what sense of humour you think you have, but it is hardly aussie. We are a fun loving people

Believe it or not you are all doomed and the source of this doomsday has been found. It is skyscrappers or in other words affulence.Hello clete:

Interestingly enough, I AGREE with you. Although I don't think skyscrapers are the canary in the coal mine... It's the prison population.. Only a RICH society at the end of its run, puts people in jail for stupid sh1t.

excon

Yes ex the size of the prison population might be an indicator of decline or perhaps an overactive legislature, still better than the example of the first republic in France who found a solution to their social problems in another form

I guess that explains NYC... but not Hollywood and LA... Or Seattle.

Give them time