That can't be good...

[themadscientist]

The culture does not value quality. Knowing what quality is and pursuing it are not always found together.

[Dattebayo]

Then their education is worthless.

[themadscientist]

Arguably yes.

[sbird1]

You bring up very good points, sir. Compared to China, yes, there is trouble brewing ahead. But comparing the US and China is not a good measure of how the US economy is doing on a worldwide scale. China owns a lot of debt in a lot of different countries. I believe that China's rise has been too fast and is too unstable. Personally, if I was you, I would keep my happy a** in Japan for a while. We can debate this topic all day. Let's just try and keep this god-forsaken country afloat and try not to get destroyed. What this country needs is about a 75% reduction in government size. You can't do that without cutting budgets, and you'll have to make cuts in "mandatory spending". That means you're going to cut one or more of the following: social security, medicare, medicaid, and national defense.

Anything you cut is going to be unpopular and is sure to not get you re-elected. Cutting our socialized programs is the only way (in my mind) to really make a difference in the US. Social Security pisses me off. SUPPLEMENTAL security income. NOT a government paycheck to live on...

Anyway, the US is a service driven economy, so the fact that we are loosing much of our industry to other nations is not surprising. Our labor is too expensive. Because we aren't manufacturing like we used to, I believe that is a leading cause to the decline in math and science fields in the US. The money today is in business. Business is an "easy" degree that holds almost as much income potential as math and science fields. Americans are lazy and want to make the buck that fastest, easiest way possible. Business fields allow you to do that.

As for Americans not embracing privatized government institutions... Americans are dumb and frustrate me more and more every day. You know what. You're right. Americans and the dumb people we "elect" are going to run this country into the ground because of lack of common sense and a dependence on the government.

Like the Dead Kennedys said, "Kill the poor". Economic woes solved.

I feel like I'm rambling now. Whatever.

[sbird1]

I feel like that was really scatter-brained. Sorry, haven't been on the ADD meds in a while...

[kornmanz]

This has been a good read.

My opinion:

Something will happen. All we can do is wait and see. We can basically only speculate what "might" happen. Some have educated guesses but they are still just guesses. It sucks the government looks out for the rich but the poor gets screwed. China makes crappy everything. Whenever I see the "made in china' on whatever product I have I pretty much expect it not to last long.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

These artillery volleys happen more often than the average person realizes. Normally it's just a couple of mortars across the DMZ. The US presence there is to act as a speed bump and give us a reason to commit to a conflict and kick N. Korea's a**. Having said that I strongly think that any sort of conflict with N. Korea (and their butt buddy China) will be way more dangerous and deadly than the whole 10 + years we've been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Al Queida and the Insurgents don't have anywhere near the training, equipment, or troop numbers that N. Korea does. Throw China into the mix and we could very well see the fighting come to mainland America. This is about as close to the Apocalypse that we could ever want to be involved with, because frankly no other country will come to our aid on this one, in fact don't be surprised if the terrorists join them to kick our a**.

KJ is one level of nutcase we don't want to deal with... His son on the other hand is just crazy enough to actually attack us.

[themadscientist]

You bring up very good points, sir. Compared to China, yes, there is trouble brewing ahead. But comparing the US and China is not a good measure of how the US economy is doing on a worldwide scale. China owns a lot of debt in a lot of different countries. I believe that China's rise has been too fast and is too unstable.

I share your opinion on China's economy. As strong as they are at first look, most fail to appreciate that they are predomonantly and export economy with little internal creative energy. If American consumers are removed from from their figures through economic collapse or hostile actions of our government, ie tariffs, the Chinese economy crashes like a new drifter. They do not have our rediculous debt, though and have been more astute in preparing for the coming crash, though. they will hurt, but not as much as us.

Personally, if I was you, I would keep my happy a** in Japan for a while. We can debate this topic all day. Let's just try and keep this god-forsaken country afloat and try not to get destroyed. What this country needs is about a 75% reduction in government size. You can't do that without cutting budgets, and you'll have to make cuts in "mandatory spending". That means you're going to cut one or more of the following: social security, medicare, medicaid, and national defense.

Definitely. I would like to see our foreign adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan halted immediately and our troops brought home. That should save quite a bit of money, but there is the problem of a lot of people suddenly injected into a stagnant job market. Not good. I'm no Keynsian, and I don't share the godlike impression of Roosevelt, but I think some of the new deal public works projects seen during the depression would do a lot of good. We could employ so many people rebuilding our infrastructure. The people doing the work of course, but also reigniting demand for steel, machinery, technical expertise, management, a myriad of support industries etc. Those people with jobs then ignite demand for domestically-produced consumer goods that put yet more Americans back to work.

Anything you cut is going to be unpopular and is sure to not get you re-elected. Cutting our socialized programs is the only way (in my mind) to really make a difference in the US. Social Security pisses me off. SUPPLEMENTAL security income. NOT a government paycheck to live on....

We have an entitlement mentality in America. I don't think anybody in power has the will or interest to do what needs to be done.

Anyway, the US is a service driven economy, so the fact that we are loosing much of our industry to other nations is not surprising. Our labor is too expensive. Because we aren't manufacturing like we used to, I believe that is a leading cause to the decline in math and science fields in the US. The money today is in business. Business is an "easy" degree that holds almost as much income potential as math and science fields. Americans are lazy and want to make the buck that fastest, easiest way possible. Business fields allow you to do that.

No argument here.

As for Americans not embracing privatized government institutions... Americans are dumb and frustrate me more and more every day. You know what. You're right. Americans and the dumb people we "elect" are going to run this country into the ground because of lack of common sense and a dependence on the government.

It depresses me every day. Look at the way people march into body scanners on command.

Like the Dead Kennedys said, "Kill the poor". Economic woes solved.

I feel like I'm rambling now. Whatever.

I prefer Motorhead's idea, eat the rich.

[themadscientist]

Throw China into the mix and we could very well see the fighting come to mainland America.

Missle attacks maybe, but we still dominate the greater pacific in both naval and air power. We will never see Chinese troops on our soil or Chinese planes in our skies.

China would be hard-pressed to gain ground control of Taiwan without a greater amphibious capability.

This is about as close to the Apocalypse that we could ever want to be involved with, because frankly no other country will come to our aid on this one, in fact don't be surprised if the terrorists join them to kick our a**.

This is one of the worst scenarios possible and keeping the conflict from going nuclear would be difficult. I think if we played it right we could tip Russia into trying to take advantage of the conflict to test China on their common border. Those two don't like us, but neither do they like each other. If China thinks Russia has their back, they have miscalculated. That's a wild card that could lead to China's downfall.

[Dattebayo]

I prefer Motorhead's idea, eat the rich.

I am pretty hungry.

[orangeNblue]

It would take some weird turn of events to see anyone attack us straight forward on our own soil, terrorlst attacks aside...Our technology is too great, and there are counter measures for every long distance missile type, nuclear included.

That being said, I don't think that with our military strength and technology should we ever underestimate our adversary. We are a country that a lot of countries have pinned to a dart board, and they're just waiting to see a sign of weakness that can be taken advantage of. And there would be alliances formed to attack the "evil" America, but if victory is achieved you know they would turn and attack each other. You gotta think, it'll take them coming together to beat us and our allies, but the second we're down, I highly doubt they'll hesitate to attack each other. And why not, with us out of the way, the world becomes a completely different playground.

[themadscientist]

If they would just be patient, we will take ourselves out of the equasion.

Just a quick link, far from exhaustive, but enough to start one wondering. Factors that arguably influenced the fall of the Roman Empire, draw parallels to the current and coming conditions of the United States hegemon.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/fall ... easons.htm

The decadence and ignorance of the people, the poor monetary policies, corruption, loss of military prowess, etc. We are on our way.

I think a revamped, less powerful America still has a place in the world, though, but the only thing that will save us is if the quality, engagement, and commitment of the rank and file American citizens improves significantly. Governments rise and fall, businesses succeed and fail, but at the core the people go on. The future is in our hands. What are we going to do?

[krimsonviper]

My credit card balances grow every day as I acquire stuff. I don't give two s***

Wanna buy me some stuff?

[themadscientist]

Nothing left, just stuff like this.

[krimsonviper]

I'll take the coke.

[Dattebayo]

Nothing left, just stuff like this.

Um, is that a silver bar? Holy sh*t!

[themadscientist]

Yes, 100Troy Oz, almost seven pounds of silver. This single bar has appreciated about $800 since I bought it less than a year ago.

Tell me again how the dollar isn't weak.



THANKS BEN!


I'm all in and I highly reccommend everybody stick a little bit of their savings into something real. IMO silver is the play, but gold is still king and you can't go wrong either way. I expect some bumpiness this coming month before a final long-term trend up or down. Obviously, you can see which way I think it's going. DYODD

[krimsonviper]

DYODD = Do Your Own Damn Digging?

[themadscientist]

Hahaha No, but if you know where we can dig up our own, I'm down! Cutting out the middle man is always good.

DYODD = Do Your Own Due Dilligence. Basically, check what I am saying and make sure you agree before proceeding.

Gold has done well too, but not as a percentage. Silver has had better return on investment.

[sbird1]

If only I had any money to buy anything "real"...

[sbird1]

Did you guys know that the North Koreans possess the only captive US Naval vessel?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pueblo_(AGER-2)

I just found out about that. The government made not retaliatory efforts either. Also, there are a lot of other places that the US has troops in that do not need to be there any more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... eployments

We do not need to be in over 150 nations. That's ridiculous.

[themadscientist]

It's getting heated. Even Russia is nervous. Emergency U.N. Security Council meeting today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40713808/ns ... siapacific

The U.N. Security Council plans an emergency meeting Sunday at Russia's request amid concerns over rising tensions on the divided Korean peninsula.

The North issued a warning Saturday saying South Korea would face "catastrophe" if it went ahead with the planned drills, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Saturday that marines would go ahead with live-fire drills as scheduled Dec. 18-21 and that the military was ready to respond to any possible provocation.

I love that I am right next to this little brewing hornet's nest.