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Originally posted by Merigold
I do so hope that getting your silver spoon taken away doesn't ruin your great nation - America is so much more then a Big Mac and 300 channels isn't she?
Originally posted by In nothing we trust
As you can see from the graph, three waves of foreclosures were engineered using the central bank.
Originally posted by cognoscente
Originally posted by In nothing we trust
As you can see from the graph, three waves of foreclosures were engineered using the central bank.
You think it might be more reasonable to say ... That they engineered economic overheating to produce bubbles and busts, and ultimately foreclosures...
I believe your graph is correct, however you mistake the perpetrators. While you believe this corporate institution is to be blamed, it's more likely that these problems stem from bad government policy and financial irresponsibility on the part of consumers, and ultimately a deficiency in the Federal Reserve to follow all the actions of these irresponsible players, and apply policy appropriately.
I would like to add that the only way America can continue on financially the way it is now is if there is some kind expected resurgence in the future. Foreign governments and corporations were still buying U.S. treasuries when it was teetering on negative. In fact, they bought MORE than ever before!
However, all recessions must be short term. Anyway, a devaluation of the U.S. dollar isn't going to spell poverty and destruction, or even break up the Constitution of the country. We'll just place more emphasis on the capital we are all currently ignoring. I mean, we are home to Microsoft after all. If only something just as innovative would be realized once again.
As soon as the world gets tired of all these inevitable recessions that come with dependency on the U.S. economy, and as soon as they realize the U.S. is overextended financially and militarily, there should be no problem finding a new global currency standard. While such a change would be devastating for the current consumer-based economy that we all a part of, it will only put more emphasis on creative capital than ever before. We do have the best scientists, weapons technologists, and manufacturing specialists on the planet.
War isn't an option because we're extremely overextended both financially and in our political presence. Creativity is the next best bet. Something real cool should emerge, the least of obvious being alternative energy production. This century is going to be very interesting considering that oil will be a fantasy, only read about in books, before most of us die. Just think of something in the scope of Microsoft but dealing with new technology, such as flying cars, or a source of unexpendable wirelessly transmitted electricity.
Originally posted by UMayBRite!
A wild card in this implosion scenario hasn't been discussed...
When USA went into depression in the 30's, the citizens mostly tightened their belts and endured. They did march on Washington, vote the perceived Perps out of Office, rumbled about going Communist or Fascist, but remained basically civilized through it all.
Now you have a couple of generations who are trained killers. Their play has been shooting people and monsters in an evermore realistic cyberworld. Instead of suffering through the coming depression, they will abandon the facade of civility and destroy each other.
Famine, disease and fighting over remaining resources would mean the the population could fall by 90% within 3 or 4 years, IMO.
That seems to me to mean "The United States ceasing to exist within 3 years"
Originally posted by UMayBRite!
A wild card in this implosion scenario hasn't been discussed...
The USA is different from most other nations of the world in the high levels of privately owned guns, so its more vulnerable than many
Our food distribution system is not robust. A collapse of the dollar would mean that store shelves would empty overnight and never be refilled. Competition has meant that most food stuffs come from a few places that are long distances from the consumers.
Utilities such as water, electricity, gas, oil would cease to be available as the few technicians that insure their operation abandoned their posts to save themselves
.
Cities would likely be quarantined early on and allowed to die.
If countries like Iran have exercised their own wild card and release Biological agents in the USA and Israel, efforts to reestablish/maintain order wouldn't have the slightest chance of success.
Crop failure would insure that the food supply wouldn't recover. The dependence on fuel fertilizer and safety from roving bands in search of food would prevent food from being grown.
While careful, orderly rebuilding could make recovery possible after a collapse of the dollar, instead what is left will be squandered.
Famine, disease and fighting over remaining resources would mean the the population could fall by 90% within 3 or 4 years, IMO.
That seems to me to mean "The United States ceasing to exist within 3 years"
Originally posted by mmiichael
I'm in Canada. A lot colder than most of the US, but a tenth of the population, no shortage of oil, fresh water, considerable seasonal agriculture, and not a lot of guns.
But we do have a 3000 mile border that is no problem crossing.
The only other country bordering the US is Mexico which is similarly blessed with natural resources and has better food growing capacity. Both may maintain some semblance of order when and if the US reverts to anarchy as you describe.
Originally posted by In nothing we trust
It is likely that both Canada and Mexico will see an influx of American refugees fleeing from the anarchy.
It is likely that the military will not be overly interested in chasing militia members through the backwoods of Michigan and Montana, but will choose to isolate these areas and cut off the major transit and communication routes. I expect that the major metropolitan areas (LA, New York, Miami, Philidelphia, Houston, Chicago, Detroit) will expierience the worst breakdown and see the brunt of the fighting.
Originally posted by mmiichael
I think in the very near future you'll see a lot of permanent emigration of those with tangible assets to the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and yes - Canada and Mexico.
No one has ever suggested the anyone in the US nuking key problem areas. Real Doomsday stuff, but think about NYC taken out by Washington or some military base in the West.
Originally posted by jped62
Most of us have heard the phrase: "too big to fail"...in this world the United States of America is too big to fail, like it or not.
Originally posted by jped62
It would be pointless to present 'evidence' to anyone so clearly wanting our country to fail. Those who have nothing but doom to offer will see only the down side, like the glass being half empty. If anything drags the US into the ground, it will be the result of November's elections.