Whether it's a slow, steady decline like the UK or a sudden and spectacular collapse like the USSR, one thing is for sure: America will give future historians much to puzzle over. Just how did a country go from such stunning success and dominance (something like 60% of the world's goods were made in the USA after WWII and we had most of the world's gold reserves) to becoming the nation-state version of Enron, producing little but financial schemes and a currency backed ultimately by nothing? Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" will be a children's book compared to what will be written about America's self-destruction.
Yes. It will be a fascinating post mortem, much like the fall of the British Empire.
I would put key blame on Wall Street, which pushed the US into WWI and then pushed for the American empire. After WW2, they helped push for the creation of the Cold War as cover for the expansion of the American empire.
The overstretch took place especially with the unnecessary and foolish Vietnam War. Globalization of the last 30 years was merely an attempt to continue the empire long past the expiration date.
I'm positive you are correct in laying the blame for much of this on Wall Street. Like the saying goes, "follow the money," and for decades, most of the money has been siphoned off by the big banks and hedge funds.
I agree. America is entering what I am starting to believe will be akin to a biblical drought. It will probably last about 7 years. My hopeful prediction is that after this turmoil, the pain will lead to wisdom and resilience among the people, and our nation could make a seemingly miraculous recovery. Something like this kind of happened in the 70’s (though we are in MUCH worse financial shape than back then). One reason it may not be quite so bad is that it will be so much worse in all other countries, and we will probably be relatively better off.
I think either possibility is real. I was young during the 70s but remember the malaise that afflicted the country and how Reagan restored optimism. It was a real change.
I would rather not have 400 years of enslavement, but at least I will not be around to see the end of it. It likely grew gradually. Hey, we are very much enslaved, especially when compared to 50 or 100 years ago.
I still think a rebirth under an Augustus Caesar is more likely than the 400 years of enslavement, but I hope we only have 7 years of turmoil.
Whether it's a slow, steady decline like the UK or a sudden and spectacular collapse like the USSR, one thing is for sure: America will give future historians much to puzzle over. Just how did a country go from such stunning success and dominance (something like 60% of the world's goods were made in the USA after WWII and we had most of the world's gold reserves) to becoming the nation-state version of Enron, producing little but financial schemes and a currency backed ultimately by nothing? Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" will be a children's book compared to what will be written about America's self-destruction.
Yes. It will be a fascinating post mortem, much like the fall of the British Empire.
I would put key blame on Wall Street, which pushed the US into WWI and then pushed for the American empire. After WW2, they helped push for the creation of the Cold War as cover for the expansion of the American empire.
The overstretch took place especially with the unnecessary and foolish Vietnam War. Globalization of the last 30 years was merely an attempt to continue the empire long past the expiration date.
I'm positive you are correct in laying the blame for much of this on Wall Street. Like the saying goes, "follow the money," and for decades, most of the money has been siphoned off by the big banks and hedge funds.
I agree. America is entering what I am starting to believe will be akin to a biblical drought. It will probably last about 7 years. My hopeful prediction is that after this turmoil, the pain will lead to wisdom and resilience among the people, and our nation could make a seemingly miraculous recovery. Something like this kind of happened in the 70’s (though we are in MUCH worse financial shape than back then). One reason it may not be quite so bad is that it will be so much worse in all other countries, and we will probably be relatively better off.
Alternatively, the biblical drought in Israel led to 400 years of enslavement in Egypt…so there’s that history lesson too.
I think either possibility is real. I was young during the 70s but remember the malaise that afflicted the country and how Reagan restored optimism. It was a real change.
I would rather not have 400 years of enslavement, but at least I will not be around to see the end of it. It likely grew gradually. Hey, we are very much enslaved, especially when compared to 50 or 100 years ago.
I still think a rebirth under an Augustus Caesar is more likely than the 400 years of enslavement, but I hope we only have 7 years of turmoil.