inward looking is often the beginning of the downfall of any great nation and/or civilization. the expansionist approach is a thing of the past, extensive collaboration could be considered.
if our economy is still banked on the old style socialist ideals where individuals are set as economic digits to fuel the unsatisfiable greed, down the gutters we go.
the ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans, the ancient Indus Civilization, the ancient Egyptian Civilization, the ancient Chinese... their legacies are still resonating right up till this date because there are philosophers and thinkers to shape and mold their society as well as others at large.
Golden Period? if Singapore is truly in our Golden Period, that's just tragic...