Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy❤
No. of Recommendations: 0
Yes, classic Star Wars line - I've got a bad feeling about this.
As i said on TMF - i believe that in the end it's a 20-80 country. The 20 is Club 401K all the way up to the non wage slaves who actually *are* wealthy. They'll have the qualififications, means, education, and the Whole Foods life will continue for them - and they'll be more insulated and protected than they are even now.
The other 80 won't just be middle class.
The top of the 80% will see the American dream as "i made my bills this month'
The middle of the 80% will have no choice but to accept government assistance from time to time - and they'll just be happy they aren't getting shot at or beaten up.
Then a huge swath will be in the Hunger Games which is less hyperbolic than i'd like
Making rash decisions is never good.
But - I am spending more than a fleeting moment these days wondering how long it's gonna be till kids add *America* to the list of fallen empires that are studied in school.
I wonder how far along in Rome is this period i'm living in?
Of course, we are so far ahead of the world. Our energy resources are a big reason. Our dynamism. HOWEVER we are trying our best to piss away Human Capital whether it's. basic health care or education. Or scientific study and research. And combined with all that, is the culture that is relegating more and more Americans to a trailer-park-ghetto mindset, lifestyle, and family structure.
And the Nation-State - as we've seen and I predicted now more gone than it is in existence. It's not a done deal yet but smart money says, the tribal-caste-3rdworld ways are soon to be our way. They are already in pockets.
I think 20-80 is the best case scenario.
Decade + ago i wrote about it on TMF that my goal wss to have a *somewhat* prepackaged life abroad. I believe that is real now.
But yeah, I admit, i've looked at entry requirements for a few nations these days.
I wanted and still wanted the great American life for my kids. But maybe the great American life is indeed frontierism after all.
Sadlly my predictions for the big picture are coming true.
I feel nostalgic for America and Americanism.
This is not final. I feel things can NOT course correct totally anymore as punishment is gonna be structural. But i do feel the worst case scenario can be reversed *if* course correction begins within 5-10 years from now. After that, it's over.
No. of Recommendations: 1
They'll have the qualififications, means, education, and the Whole Foods life will continue for them
Nope. Nice try though.
Basic question you forgot to answer:
From *where* will they get all the "stuff" they consume? The US $ will be as valuable as Zimbamwe's currency (i.e. MAYBE usable as toilet paper--if you are throwing it away).
So, they have NO MONEY (because no US $).
They are NOT RICH and never shall be.
No. of Recommendations: 17
But - I am spending more than a fleeting moment these days wondering how long it's gonna be till kids add *America* to the list of fallen empires that are studied in school.
I've thought about that regularly throughout my life (64 years), and it always seemed that there was no end in sight to the reign of the USA as the supreme world power. Until now. And it has come way faster than I ever dreamed it could.
That's because I never imagined we would self-destruct. Our divisiveness, with some well-executed nudges from Russia, have torn us apart. The anonymity of the internet and technology that allows people to create false images are proving to be tall hurdles to overcome and maintain some sense of cohesion as a country. Hatred is so easily expressed, rumors so easily spread. You can find someone saying anything you want to find.
It's hard to know what and who to believe any more, but I think you can still generally come close if you look hard enough. Education and science matter, but our support of them is dwindling as they become political footballs.
This is not final. I feel things can NOT course correct totally anymore as punishment is gonna be structural. But i do feel the worst case scenario can be reversed *if* course correction begins within 5-10 years from now. After that, it's over.
I think 5 to 10 years is too long on the path we're heading down now, given the acceleration of the demise of faith in our formerly trusted institutions. Who would lead us out of this mess? It would have to start with civil discourse, and I don't see that happening any time soon.
