Premise:
"it was between six and eight inches here where we are"
Hypothesis: It was between six and eight inches here.

yes

Premise:
"oh yuck yeah that's terrible that's terrible gosh"
Hypothesis: Yes, that is extremely bad. Extremely bad indeed.

yes

Premise:
"So, if these times in the United States are like the time of Nero, we have (by analogy) at least 200 more years, including another century of greatness, and perhaps another millennium."
Hypothesis: If modern US is like the Nero era, then we are doomed.
no