America on the verge of Social Collapse?

When there's no "big enemy" to fight against, it's natural for a superpower to shrink in size back down to its nearest economic neighbors (the EU, India, China, Japan...)

Even assuming that we're on a downward spiral, we have a GDP that's almost DOUBLE second place (that would be China, which is due for an economic meltdown any second now).

We have one of the most varied and advanced infrastructure in the world. The average American is over-nourished and underworked... perhaps not good things, but at least we're not starving and working in the salt mines.

And natural resources? Why, we have tons of everything, contrary to alarmist opinions. It's a side-effect of being the 4th largest nation in the world...

We have one of the best (if not the best) all-volunteer fighting force on the planet. We have the strongest tactical arsenal ever assembled. Due to our 2nd amendment, we are also armed to the teeth as civilians, making any sort of silly invasion a moot point.

Yes, the political pendulum has swung the other way... we spent a decade on the left side, now it must swing to the right... in 10-20 years it will have swung back to the left (well, American left... we're a pretty conservative bunch).

If this country can survive a civil war, 2 world wars (that also put us on top in the first place), social upheaval in the 60's, the Great Depression, and so on, I think we can weather the effects of an incompetent President and his cronies. Case in point: Ulyssys S. Grant, arguably more corrupt than George II could ever hope to be.

Look on the bright side.

LF

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...

Comes revolution... look for it.

The only alternative will be another depression... Modern Americans will not allow it.

Social collapse, pendulum swings, enduring dystopia, or what? Hmmm...another way to frame the question: will the American Revolution resurge or is it utterly dead?

The way I see it, the original Revolution was displaced during the Civil War, when our government first deemed it necessary to bow to corporations in the interest of the war effort. Corporations were deemed "natural persons" under the law, no longer tools of commerce but entities unto themselves. As such, they became intimately entwined in the political process.

Born out of war, with no goal but profit, commanding massive resources and potentially immortal, these entities grew dominant over the following century (the now infamous 20th), nourished by the blood of endless war, kept only loosely in check by surviving progressive elements. They've enthroned the ideals of the Confederacy they were empowered to destroy: economic expansion over individual liberty, security over freedom, and power over people.

We face the same split now as when the Revolution began more than 200 years ago. So-called "conservative" elements prefer to remain subordinate to bigger beasts that offer reward and protection (once upon a time the King, now the Corporation), while progressives continue to fight for "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," for "liberty and justice for all."




I divert my time and money away from corporate interests, working for a company that promotes sustainability, quality of life, and individual/community initiative. I walk to work and spend money in my neighborhood, buying my food and other goods from companies that strive to improve the ecosystem and nourish human beings, rather than inattentively fouling the earth while seeking more efficient ways to kill. Visibly and vocally, I oppose a system that values keeping everyone busy over doing good works. It's not everything I could do, I know, but that doesn't prevent me from doing something.

Artemis, no, we're not in great shape, but the Revolution is not yet lost.

Good on ya, Vudu. Althought, that question was directed specifically at Ardith, I'm glad to see someone walking the walk instead of just whining the whine.

-Kiamat Dusk
Walker

:: skips to the end to make a short comment, reserving the bulk of the reading on this thread for lunchtime! ::

I agree that eventually there will be some sort of large scale civil unrest, the difficulty is determining what the exact trigger will be.

I also look at Star Wars and sometimes think to myself, "Yanno, there are some people who are perfectly happy living under the Empire, and they are so wrapped up in their daily lives that it doesn't make much difference to them who is in power."

Given the context of your other posts and threads, the question came off as another stereotype of "Liberals"now used to refer to right-leaning moderates and anyone to their left) as pouting teenage rebels who never grew up.

We hear plenty of whining from right-wing fundamentalists, too, about how they're embattled and under attack (I recall someone mentioning a "war on Christianity". The hypocrisy is almost funny given that this poor, besieged "minority" controls 2/3 of the government and most of the wealth in this nation, and at least nominal Christianity remains a requirement for almost any office higher than the School Board. It woud be a great comedy routine if the whiners weren't constantly trying to expand their hegemony into our schools, hospitals, and workplaces

The American standard of living is going to have to even out with the standard in the rest of the world. That's just entropy at work. How high that standard will be depends in large part at our success in curbing our appetites now and focusing our minds on creating a sustainable future.

I am hopeful that we can make a peaceful transition. Revolutions are always messy affairs.