Why We’re Underestimating American Collapse: The Strange New Pathologies of the World’s First Rich Failed State (percentage, free-market)
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The press has people believe that Russia is an enemy because of God knows whatever reason. I don't know. I don't watch the news.
Reality is that the Russia is an enemy because it stands in the way of complete US/US Allies hegemony in the middle east and then central Asia, and then eventually Russia itself.
It's all about resources. It doesn't matter how "rich" someone is on paper without resources. Russia and China are strategically located where all the resources are.
That is the future. As you said, it's not that complicated.
How can the US even engage in war without oil? The CIA even released a report on this. If I could find it, I would source it, but damn, I'm tired of this.
I feel like this stuff is common sense.
You realize that the US just passed the Saudis in oil production, correct? Just last year, they discovered the largest oil field in US history.
ANY form of government has the ability within itself to turn towards an authoritarian/totalitarian state, all of them, including capitalism. A lot of people bandy the word "fascism" around without really knowing what it means. It is anti-intellectual, pro- traditionalist, and pro-corporate. Sound familiar?
Capitalism is an economic system which means private ownership of the means of production. All advanced countries are capitalist/socialist (capitalist with extensive regulation, taxation, and social benefits, with state control of some enterprises), and I'd guess that all developing ones are as well.
The US political system is a democratic republic.
Nobody knows what fascism means, because it is ill defined.
But the US is definitely moving towards an authoritarian/totalitarian state. The charade of freedom, rights, and middle class prosperity is slowly eroding. As I mentioned early, this is because the oligarchs figured out how to divorce their fortunes from the fortunes of the rest of us. This has been going on blatantly for 40 years now, but hardly anyone is aware of it. Modern tech makes invasive spying very easy. Our attitudes, moods, beliefs, and thoughts are constantly manipulated. The result is that we are ignorant, agitated, divided, and powerless.
I hope for the best, but I don't see it improving. In the not too distant future they will not need workers/consumers at all.
The author's point that the opiod crisis is highly correlated with a badly broken health care system is a good one.
I'm not following the other two points though. School shootings... what was the point about that? Predatory society, wtf does that even mean? "Social bonds collapsing" is an old saw. Nothing new to hear there.
" The world’s task is this. Should the world follow the American model — extreme capitalism, no public investment, cruelty as a way of life, the perversion of everyday virtue — then these new social pathologies will follow, too. They are new diseases of the body social that have emerged from the diet of junk food — junk media, junk science, junk culture, junk punditry, junk economics, people treating one another and their society like junk — that America has fed upon for too long."
As with everything, look to the conclusion before buying the entire idea.
Yes people are struggling financially, but it is not "EXTREME CAPITALISM" that is the problem but the Oligopolies/Monopolies/ Corporatism. The problem is paid off politicians getting campaign handouts by big Pharm/ Insurance agencies, etc. The problem is BIG GOVERNMENT taking a role that was never intended by the Federal Government.
The problem is our failing public school system, which promotes mediocrity and is more concerned about someone being "transgendered" than being successful. The problem is Americans getting lazy and fat not paying attention to what is going on or not doing anything about it. The problem is our corrupt Media which dispenses information to form not INform public opinion to meet their own agenda.
We are due for a collapse. At this point, it has to happen. Politicians will keep kicking the can down the road until it happens.
It is inevitable. One thing you can count on when it does, is MORE Government Power over the people, and it won't be good.
The problem isn't his factual assertions, it is the faulty conclusions he draws from them.
Agreed. He talks about how Costa Rica has better health care than the us. And then advocates that we need more health care. The reality is that we spend TONS more money than Costa Rica and have way more health care. The facts are that the health care system in the USA has become poor and NO ONE wants to call it out. Big Pharma has everyone on untested drugs and health care has become a way to make money. Procedures are done needlessly, drugs are thrown out without proper warning and this creates the opioid epidemic. People have been brainwashed to think they need vaccines constantly and should be doing whatever their doctor says no matter what the long term effects will be for them.
The health care system (including mental health) is a massive black hole of crud that could very well be causing most of the things he talks about. Including school shootings.
No, you're just ignorant. Only in America can you have a successful industry at almost 0% interest rates and the lowest oil prices you'll ever see again in your lifetime, that loses money hand over fist.
You know nothing of your oil industry. Look at the decline rates. It doesn't matter. People on this forum don't read.
Interesting how he missed the #1 (by a wide margin) reason.
I have to ask. Have you ever been there? A week in Moscow doesn't count. You have to know the country. Fear is an element in every society. Americans have a lot to fear, Russians, Brits, Germans, Poles. Some have more to fear, Congolese, Thais due to their governments and whatever mechanisms run the country.
Fear works great controling Americans.
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