Here is a very sobering article about the future of America. It sounds quite plausible to me.
Instead of a recovery as the mainstream envisions it, what if America permanently bankrupts, impoverishes, and marginalizes itself? What if its cherished institutions fail across the board? For example, what happens when the police realize that their under-funded pension plans cannot support a decent retirement? Will they stay honest, or will they opt to survive by any means necessary? These are questions that the mainstream does not even begin to contemplate.
In the interests of providing you with an alternate vision—something outside the mainstream—below are ten predictions for America through the year 2012. This is not boilerplate doom-saying. Rather, I am laying out in highly specific terms what will happen over the next three-odd years. Others have thrown around the term “Depression”, but I am going to tell you precisely what it means for you, your investments, and your community.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/134820-the-worst-case-scenario-someone-h...
honestly,
that seems pretty optimistic. The tea leaves are telling me to expect something akin to the following.
http://www.dieoff.org/
Also, if you haven't read it already, check out Taleb's the "Black Swan." He's a quantitative analyst who has basically proven in the math that societies don't change because of the crises that can be seen. They change because of the outliers, or, the things no one can predict.
I caught an interview with him at the end of last year when the financial crisis became apparent. I have never seen a smart person so scared in my life.
ciao.
I think the article was spot-on.
My poor nephew graduates from high school next month. What a struggle he is going to have.
you beat me to it.
i'm going to link this to the ramtha book.
I am definitely leaning in the direction of this article. The question I have is whether there is going to be a big collapse or just a steady decline. I think we are looking a fall of Rome scenario in many respects with the same level of historical relevance -- including the fact that the world did not, in fact, come to an end.
As I consider the Biblical prophesies that cause many people to think this is the "end times", I realize that the current crisis and power struggle is far too western-centric. The problem nations are in western Europe while the Bible deals exclusively in the Middle East with Israel (the spiritual nation not to be confused with the secular modern nation) as the focal point. In our western view of the world, we think we are the epicenter of the world when in fact, we are late-comers to the party (though admittedly, we have driven most of the technology over the past 400 years or so).
I believe what we are seeing in these days it the collapse of Western Civilization. The power will shift eastward as a new empire or civilization rises. It is a normal historical cycle, and when you look at a historical timetable, it is right on cue.
So, no I don't think it is the end of the world, per se. But it is the end of our western world and culture as we know it.
Now environmental factors may certainly come into play to make things even more interesting, but I do not know if we should trust those theories either. I have no reason to have faith in Ramtha, and I certainly have no faith in our mainstream media. The only crisis they do seem to be trumpeting is global warming which makes me think it is simply one more attempt to create fear for manipulation and control.
Just my two (rapidly losing value) cents.
if there were zero environmental factors...
i would say, it would be a slow decline.
"The question I have is whether there is going to be a big collapse or just a steady decline."
meaning....
the usa not engaging in any wars, no pollution, no global warming, no icecaps melting, no solar storm, no planet x.
if it was 'just' economic ... we could all get through this.
i think it is hyperinflation that sets people off... meaning getting the masses angry enough ... that they riot. and i don't mean 'protest'. i mean 'riot'.
the only thing i have in my memory to compare it to ... is the rodney king riots. it just happened. no one planned it. people just exploded en masse.
and THAT'S before the first major natural disaster hits.