Is the US destined for social & economic collapse?

[Vortex2]

I watch a lot of YT videos on all aspects of the USA.

It seems to me that the US is on its way to Balkanisation, which could end up with a collapse similar to that of the Yugoslav federation.

Am I over-thinking this?

[johnny]

I watch a lot of YT videos on all aspects of the USA.
It seems to me that the US is on its way to Balkanisation, which could end up with a collapse similar to that of the Yugoslav federation.
Am I over-thinking this?

Sounds like good ol' fashion peak oil "quality" thinking. You Tube videos....good one.....are you trolling? Slow weekend in the land of the unarmed and bored?

[northernmonkey]

US economic, social and political collapse is now imminent I would say. I know that's been said by a lot of people for quite a long time. But, I think it really is right around the corner now. The US and its various lackeys in the UK, EU New Zealand, Australia and Canada are becoming more isolated in the world by the day and the US, in particular, is becoming a laughing stock. Especially on the military front. The rest of the world now fully understands that unless the US is kicking the ass of some tinpot 3rd word dictator (and it's not even very good at that) it couldn't fight its way out of a paper bag. This is also why US sanctions are not working on Russia. Most of the rest of the world doesn't have a problem with Russia. Most of the rest of the world, however, hates the USA and for good reason.

So, the US empire is drawing to a close. But, the ever more desperate measures it is taking to avoid having to face up to that are, on the one hand, hilarious and, on the other, terrifying. It's quite possible the USA could trigger World War Three on the basis that if they can't be top dog, no one can.

[Catweazle]

I must be watching the wrong videos, as I see the US as a deeply divided but nevertheless strong economy, with enormous homeland manufacturing capacity and a skilled workforce. Add the fact that they are deeply patriotic and well armed and you have a formidable country.

[johnny]

US economic, social and political collapse is now imminent I would say. I know that's been said by a lot of people for quite a long time.

Well, at least you recognize that like peak oil...maybe are called, but few are chosen.

But, I think it really is right around the corner now. The US and its various lackeys in the UK, EU New Zealand, Australia and Canada are becoming more isolated in the world by the day and the US, in particular, is becoming a laughing stock. Especially on the military front.

Indeed. Goodness knows all those more powerful militaries in the world scare the beejesus out of Americans. It is amazing Americans don't go to sleep every night worried about its military equivalent out there somewhere. Oh wait...they imploded back in the early 90's and no one else has come along since then. Whoops.

Most of the rest of the world, however, hates the USA and for good reason.

Do tell. Is it jealousy, or something more malevolent?

So, the US empire is drawing to a close.

Well, while folks who did once have an empire might think others lust towards the same, the US ain't that, has never been one. We left all the suckers for kings and emperors and whatnot behind a long time ago. And look what happened to them...had to create NATO because they sure couldn't handle the sharp end of a steak knife on their own, let alone the various fascists and communists running around on the continent.

[BritDownUnder]

A problem I see about any part of the US seceding is that it would probably a richer part rather than a poorer part. After all a relatively poor US state with lots of Latinos like New Mexico (we'll see later that its not that poor in the scheme of things) might want in its heart to join its Mexican brothers but when it has to pay for all their social requirements the head might say no. The richer parts might save money by seceding but will then lose their market and defence capability.

Except for videos of the homeless on the streets of major cities who I doubt are more than 1% of the population I see no major problems. You have to attend university in the US, or at least live there, to see how huge the middle class is over there and what spending power they have.

To end I will show you a table of US state versus EU state GDP per capita in 2021. It will make you pause for thought if you think the EU is a powerful economic block and then you will realise why the US are sending and are able to send such large quantities of weapons to Ukraine. If you are wondering, the Great Southern Land's GDP is about the same as Denmark's but I know which place I would rather live.

I thought I would add that the UK GDP per capita is about the same as Mississippi - perhaps closer to Idaho's. Kind of makes you think does it not?
I would also add that you could be in an economic grouping that has abundant surpluses of fossil, hydro electric, wind, solar, mineral and agricultural resources with a well funded military and be worried about collapse or you could be very smug and be living in the EU. I would still take Australia over the US but it would be a closer choice than that between Australia and the EU.

[Ralphw2]

At first I was amazed to see Ireland 's position, but then I remembered their tax haven status, and just how much they are costing the EU in uncollected taxes from big tech. There must be quite a few Irish billionaires to balance out that gdp figure amongst the population

[Catweazle]

A very informative GDP chart.

The USA has considerable manufacturing capability, and a strong pride in things Made In USA. I think they would come out of most trade war scenarios strongly.

[BritDownUnder]

At first I was amazed to see Ireland 's position, but then I remembered their tax haven status, and just how much they are costing the EU in uncollected taxes from big tech. There must be quite a few Irish billionaires to balance out that gdp figure amongst the population

There is a Wikipedia list of ten Irish billionaires but I think most of that GDP is in the form of assets, including a lot of un-repatriated taxes, held by offshore companies quite a few of whom are American. How such an asset comes into GDP calculations is anyone's guess but it does.

It's probably fair to say that the real GDP of the ROI is a bit smaller than that but I would guess it is still bigger than the UK.

On the trade war subject, I think the US does actually seem to want to start one. There is not a lot of daylight between Trump and Biden in foreign trade policy.

I asked several students when I was at university over there and to a man they said they would fight to prevent any state leaving the union. I will say though that their immigration policy since 1965, while better than that of the UK and even Australia, has not served them well compared if they had not passed the 1965 Immigration Act. Their population would have been smaller but a lot more united I think and their economy stronger.

[adam2]

The USA has considerable fossil fuel reserves, and plenty of land to exploit wind,hydroelectric, and solar energy on a large scale.
A net food exporter.
They have a lot of manufacturing industry.
Considerable reserves of useful metals.
So better placed to survive a crash than many nations.

I consider a break-up into a number of smaller nations to be entirely possible, but that in itself does not negate the above advantages.

A drawback is a poor standard of education, especially in science based subjects. This leads to widespread belief in magic free energy devices, and run your car on water scams.

[johnny]

A drawback is a poor standard of education, especially in science based subjects. This leads to widespread belief in magic free energy devices, and run your car on water scams.

Indeed. Those poorly educated Americans, inventing and falling for that entire peak oil thing even! Well, not all of them.

However, even without much education, you've got to admit that apparently even as self learners, we do pretty good in the "ain't all that dumb!!" department. Not bad for country bumpkins!

Top 11 Countries with the Most Nobel Prize Winners (1901-2021)
United States — 400
United Kingdom — 138
Germany — 111
France — 71
Sweden — 32 (tie)
Russia — 32 (tie)
Japan — 29
Canada — 28
Switzerland — 27
Austria — 22 (tie)
Netherlands — 22 (tie)

[BritDownUnder]

I don't really agree about the science failing of the US education system. having worked for American companies for the majority of my career first in pharmaceuticals and then engineering I think that American STEM education is very comprehensive and thorough particularly if you are prepared to get a scholarship or Mum and Dad to pay for it. I spent a semester at a private US university and was impressed by the well funded laboratories, well motivate lecturers and quality of lectures that focused on theory and were a good preparation for R and D. For instance at my NZ university we spent 30 minutes on diode theory and doing the equivalent electronics course at the US university they spent three weeks on diode theory. I would say that I got the impression that US students were less intelligent than UK equivalents but were far more motivated and hard working than UK equivalents. Also far more homework and assignments at US universities.

I think also the US bachelors degrees are at a lower level that overseas bachelors degrees in terms of research and project work but US students probably do more masters degrees than their UK equivalents.

US companies also have considerable R and D departments that guard their work closely and unless you have worked for one of these companies you would simply not know they exist. There are many long serving well paid staff even at graduate level, unlike the hire and fire ethos of UK research from my experience, and promotion is meritocratic.

The only problem I see for long term US academic research is how infiltrated it is by the Chinese at the PhD and Postdoctoral level.

[Ralphw2]

There is no doubt that at the elite level US scientific education is excellent. The problem is the other 90% of the population, especially the many millions who see the bible as the supreme authority on all knowledge.

[johnny]

There is no doubt that at the elite level US scientific education is excellent. The problem is the other 90% of the population, especially the many millions who see the bible as the supreme authority on all knowledge.

Well, the Bible thumpers are pretty set in their ways, but there is some speculation out there that Americans have been de-churching in substantial ways over the past few decades.

[BritDownUnder]

There is no doubt that at the elite level US scientific education is excellent. The problem is the other 90% of the population, especially the many millions who see the bible as the supreme authority on all knowledge.

Well, the Bible thumpers are pretty set in their ways, but there is some speculation out there that Americans have been de-churching in substantial ways over the past few decades.

I think if 10% develop a world beating tech economy then the other 90% can probably believe in just about anything as long as they don't take too many drugs or rob too many stores. The problem is when the time comes when the 10% elite are mostly Chinese.