All great civilizations have died in the past........

[buckmine]

when will the great US of A fold under?

Just asking.......

[Aught Six]

when will the great US of A fold under?

Just asking.......

It will fold the moment the majority of people have forgotten what it means to be free. With all of our problems, we are still the shining example of Liberty in action. We really have it good here. Most Americans realize this, even if they take it for granted. But a new generation (and not exclusively young) are beginning to work against the democratic principles we hold on to, and in alarming numbers. They will be the ones to undermine out country...unless we can turn the tide.

[frizzellr]

When doom-sayers like you become the majority.

[North Texan]

I don't know that the country will fold, but I see major challenges on the horizon. If government monetary policies do not change, I am afraid the U.S. will suffer the same fate as Argentina. The national debt is getting dangerously high. Argentina had the same problem, with irresponsible government spending and decreasing tax revenues. The national debt was allowed to spiral out of control. The government would run large deficits during lean times, yet fail to run large surpluses to make up the difference in high times. When interest rates rose and growth slowed, Argentina needed even higher surpluses to stabilize debt in relation to GDP. The death blow came from external factors, mainly problems with its currency and the economies of its trading partners. Argentina eventually had to default on its debt, the largest default in history. What was a major tourist destination and one of the world's richest nations now suffers from high unemployment and political unrest. Streets that once were popular party destinations are no longer safe to travel for fear of kidnapping, robbery, or worse. Things the government failed to calculate, among others, were the rising burden of interest on the national debt and the shift to privatized social security.

I don't think the U.S. economy is there yet, but it will eventually get there if nothing changes. I would guess that an economic collapse would be about as likely a cause of failure as anything. Most governments that have collapsed in the last 100 or so years have done so because of failed economies. Russia did so in 1917, when the Communists revolted and overthrew the Tsar. Then again when the Communist government collapsed in the late 80's and early 90's. The German economy turned south after WWI, leading to the rise of Facism and the Nazi party. Many of the other developing countries in Africa and elsewhere are unstable because of poor economies. The U.S. survived the Great Depression, but we also had a lot of things go our way. FDR excerted strong leadership, preventing people from turning elsewhere for leadership. WWII brought the depression to an end by mobilizing the workforce, putting the unemployed back to work and providing manufacturers the opportunity to produce.

[etothepii]

decreasing tax revenues.

Fortunately, tax cuts INCREASE tax revenue.

[etothepii]

It will fold the moment the majority of people have forgotten what it means to be free.

I don't know, Aught. One could argue that our free society died long ago. Think about all the freedoms that existed for the first fifty years of our society. Now, think of all the laws, regulations and restrictions we have. Compound that with the way legislators and judges have twisted our Constitution. Maybe our great society is dead, and now we're in a different one. We just call it the same name...

[strut]

When we have more people wanting a hand out and wanting the government to support every need they have than we do people working to support the entitlement crowd, and its keeps getting closer every day seems to me.

[virginiaJim]

aprox 3 days after Kerry is elected. I can see it all now. We will have UN crossing gaurds on all streets, government jobs and health care for people who just walked off the boat. And most of all we will see the US military on trial in UN courts because Kerry will sell us of to the world. And lets not forget what he is going to do to gun owners. Tax on ammo, Tax on range fees, bans on auto load hand guns and long guns, pistol grips, any mag fed weapon.


Trust me, its coming.

[Whitehorse]

Ah yes, gloom & doom is popular. I don't buy into it. Can things happen that would cause the US to go under? Yes, they sure can, if we let it. I propose not letting this happen, & this election is a great time to continue moving. Re-elect President Bush so that the terrorists will be fought & defeated on their soil. Support a free Iraq, because freedom & liberty are the best weapons against tyrrany & terrorism. Don't give up, fight harder, get your friends out to vote for President Bush & others who understand what this & other free countries need - Freedom & Liberty! The way to lose is to give up, & I'm not giving up regardless!!!

[Swampmonster]

America is a glorious old house, a house on a hill, with a new roof, bright new vinyl siding, new windows and a sprawling new lawn of the richest green. Its old, once rock-solid foundation has been neglected, is severely cracked and reparable only at the most unthinkably painful cost. The cost of repair grows exponentially with each generation. It is now so great and promises so much pain, the house's owners have tacitly decided to ignore the foundation altogether. Indeed, few even speak of it and when they do they are ridiculed as fanatics, gloom and doomers. Eventually, the entire structure will find its way to the ground, collapsing in stages, allowing some to continue living in it as they boast of their "freedom."