The End Of The American Empire Is Here

I dispute the the notion that US is an imperial power. IMO the word hegemony is more appropriate. It is about influence and last century was the century of the American hegemony. US has never ruled over Australia but the American influence can be seen everywhere, especially when it comes to foreign policy and popular entertainment.

The British Empire was a real thing in that we were bound to Great Britain by law, first as a colony, or more accurately a number of colonies that were later granted the status of states, before becoming an independent nation but the British hegemony lasted until WW II.
 

Alligatorob said:
I believe you are right about the upper classes, why do you think the lower income group is growing?
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Immigration both illegal and legal. Plus, as a society, we still have not figured out how to break the cycle of poverty amongst our poor. Johnson's Great Society was a bust!
 
Paco Dennis said:
Environment_Costs_1902.gif
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Do you have similar charts for other countries?
During your lifetime have you enjoyed any of the benefits of the chart you present as being destructive?

I have enjoyed a lifetime of what capitalism has made possible for me. Can it continue ? I doubt it.

When it will collapse I haven't a clue, but I am certain collapse will happen since the deficit is IMO huge. The U.S. budget deficit is projected to fall to $1 trillion in 2022. The Congressional Budget Office provided an update on the path for deficits at a moment when the Federal Reserve is trying to cool the economy to tame rapid inflation.

I think presenting the deficit to fall to one trillion as a serious reduction is an attempt to put lip stick on a pig.

I think everyone knows debt isn't bad until you can't pay for it. One trillion dollars of deficit not likely to be paid down any time soon.

A facetious question. Looking forward what politicians are going to propose cuts in spending and increasing taxes?
 

Timewise 60+ said:
Immigration both illegal and legal. Plus, as a society, we still have not figured out how to break the cycle of poverty amongst our poor. Johnson's Great Society was a bust!
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The Act provided better access to home mortgages and a rent-subsidy program. Johnson's Great Society policies birthed Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. All of which remain government programs in 2021.
 
Paco Dennis said:
The Act provided better access to home mortgages and a rent-subsidy program. Johnson's Great Society policies birthed Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. All of which remain government programs in 2021.
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For my money these 'Socialized' programs are a bust! In case you noticed, today they all are part of the federal spending that is either borrowing money, primarily from China, or printing new money to fund these programs and others...our society cannot continue to spend money we do not have...what about that do you not understand?
 
Timewise 60+ said:
For my money these 'Socialized' programs are a bust! In case you noticed, today they all are part of the federal spending that is either borrowing money, primarily from China, or printing new money to fund these programs and others...our society cannot continue to spend money we do not have...what about that do you not understand?
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government programs never die and seldom work as intended.....
 
Pepper said:
You can help @Timewise 60+ by giving up or donating your SS and Medicare. It seems you don't need it anyway, else you wouldn't be complaining these programs exist. Put your money where your mouth is?
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Now that's a pretty shallow comment! With a little economics under your bonnet you might have some idea of what the heck I was saying! I guess you prefer the government supporting you...

I will not dignify your post with a specific reply!
 
oldman said:
According to the U.S. debt clock, the U.S. has already paid in $434 billion. Our debt ratio to GDP stands at 129%. It used to be when a country hit 78% of GDP, they were considered insolvent.

We have a $4+ trillion budget, but we spend $6+ trillion. The Congress looks at the treasury as a blank check. Every dollar we send to Ukraine is borrowed. I have asked this before, but here goes again, “Does any other country contribute money to Ukraine?” Not just weapons.

I am just a little guy compared to all the billionaires in this country. My tax bill this year was in excess of $10,000.00. This is the most I have ever paid in. Many new billionaires were created during the COVID crisis. The stock market presented many great buying opportunities.
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European NATO countries have been relying on the US to intervene or support them militarily if needed, for decades. After Russia invaded Ukraine, most, if not all of those countries are now building up their own military with their own money. I know Poland and Germany are contributing heavily to Ukraine - military equipment, refugee status, and humanitarian goods - and I think Italy gave them some planes. Not sure about that, it's something my brother told me.

Re:COVID - the US wasted many billions of dollars during the pandemic, and millions of small businesses went under.
 
Don M. said:
I've been convinced, for years, that at least 1/3rd of our tax dollars are wasted on government mismanagement and inefficiency. Many of their plans look good on paper, but seldom work in reality.
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absolutely the waste in how these programs is run is amazing .......
in any business type situation people would evaluate " IS THIS WORKING as proposed? " and then make adjustments ...
government adds layers and hoops and loopholes making the Original intent meaningless.
 
Alligatorob said:
Thanks Janice, and I think this does fit into what's being allowed.

Are you saying that welfare reform has dumped too many unskilled people into the workforce?

Or that welfare has encouraged growth of a government dependent lower class?
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Both.
But I don't necessarily think long-term dependence on the government is always intentional. When young people cut their educations short, it can be difficult or impossible for them to resume it and get ahead.
 
Knight said:
A facetious question. Looking forward what politicians are going to propose cuts in spending and increasing taxes?
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A good question, actually.

The politician who finally talks real. Do you think enough Americans are finally ready to elect that person? S/he would have to be exceptionally creative to sway public thinking, because it seems that hard facts are not very convincing.
 
JaniceM said:
Both.
But I don't necessarily think long-term dependence on the government is always intentional. When young people cut their educations short, it can be difficult or impossible for them to resume it and get ahead.
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Do you think that's intentional, or political short-shortsightedness?

There are programs that offer free job skills training and job preparedness, but you don't hear much about them from social workers at the welfare office.
 
JaniceM said:
Both.
But I don't necessarily think long-term dependence on the government is always intentional. When young people cut their educations short, it can be difficult or impossible for them to resume it and get ahead.
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maybe not intentional but once you go down the rabbit hole ... many never return to being self reliant.
The requirements and limits of what you can do makes people chose to stay on program then going out on their own even with enough education to have a self supporting job....

There are IMO far too many programs that would suggest it is not that hard to complete an education ... depends on if you KNOW and can FIND the PROGRAMS out there

i know of 3 ladies whom have done NOTHING but go to school for over a decade.......... on the governments dime ....
Let that sink in a decade .. the kids they hope to support FOUND jobs before MOM did.
all with the idea to make them eligible for a decent paying job but now 2 are at master level of education with ZERO experience ...
so offered same a a BS in pay so why do we continue to pay for year after year of school if their $$ amount is unchanged ?
 
oldman said:
Every dollar we send to Ukraine is borrowed.
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Every dollar we spent in Iraq and Afghanistan was also borrowed. What % of our current budget is debt service alone?

"This year, the federal government will spend $300 billion on interest payments on the national debt. This is the equivalent of nearly 9 percent of all federal revenue collection and over $2,400 per household. The federal government spends more on interest than on science, space, and technology; transportation; and education combined. The household share of federal interest is larger than average household spending on many typical expenditures, including gas, clothing, education, or personal care."

https://www.crfb.org/papers/how-high-are-federal-interest-payments
 
Jeni said:
maybe not intentional but once you go down the rabbit hole ... many never return to being self reliant.
The requirements and limits of what you can do makes people chose to stay on program then going out on their own even with enough education to have a self supporting job....

There are IMO far too many programs that would suggest it is not that hard to complete an education ... depends on if you KNOW and can FIND the PROGRAMS out there

i know of 3 ladies whom have done NOTHING but go to school for over a decade.......... on the governments dime ....
Let that sink in a decade .. the kids they hope to support FOUND jobs before MOM did.
all with the idea to make them eligible for a decent paying job but now 2 are at master level of education with ZERO experience ...
so offered same a a BS in pay so why do we continue to pay for year after year of school if their $$ amount is unchanged ?
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Yeah, I edited my comment to add - There are programs that offer free job skills training and job preparedness, but you don't hear much about them from social workers at the welfare office.

Also, the EDD, Employment Development Dept, used to focus on job assistance. Now they just hand out application forms for welfare and soc-sec disability. Seriously, that's it....it's all they do.
 
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Murrmurr said:
Yeah, I edited that comment to add - There are programs that offer free job skills training and job preparedness, but you don't hear much about them from social workers at the welfare office.

Also, the EDD, Employment Development Dept, used to focus on job assistance. Now they just hand out application forms for welfare and soc-sec disability. Seriously, that's it....it's all they do.
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exactly what use to be employees trying to help you ....
most NOW just tell you what hoops to jump through to get this or that like cheat codes on a video game IMO
 
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Timewise 60+ said:
Now that's a pretty shallow comment! With a little economics under your bonnet you might have some idea of what the heck I was saying! I guess you prefer the government supporting you...

I will not dignify your post with a specific reply!
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Could you promise that in perpetuity? That's an offer I can't refuse.
 
Jeni said:
government programs never die and seldom work as intended.....
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Did you take a poll? The government programs that help me HELP ME! and I'd be up schitt's creek without them. The problem is the bs one must go through for acceptance. I had a judge apologize to me for what I was put through, & stalled (his words) as I was so obviously in need.
 
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