re: The end of the US

It's the second highest debt to GDP ratio we've ever had. We can manage. Japan, Germany, and the UK survived with external debts well above their GDPs for decades. We're just below that 100% threshhold only when including the 6T in debt the government owes itself.

The key distinction is understanding that we are currently able to keep interest rates on US debt unbelievably low for 2 reasons: 1) The primacy of the dollar as the world denomiation and 2) Quantitative Easing 3.

Normally, when a nation exceeds 100% its bond holdings lose value and thus interest rates go up in order to sell them. If interest rates go up, they will do so rapidly and it would nose dive the economy (recession or depression depending on degrees).

We know QE3 will end soon. Wizards of smart are hoping we can keep condition 1 going indefinitely.

The BL is this level of debt is risky.

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The key distinction is understanding that we are currently able to keep interest rates on US debt unbelievably low for 2 reasons: 1) The primacy of the dollar as the world denomiation and 2) Quantitative Easing 3.

Normally, when a nation exceeds 100% its bond holdings lose value and thus interest rates go up in order to sell them. If interest rates go up, they will do so rapidly and it would nose dive the economy (recession or depression depending on degrees).

We know QE3 will end soon. Wizards of smart are hoping we can keep condition 1 going indefinitely.

The BL is this level of debt is risky.

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Again, Japan, Germany, and UK survived without the luxery of printing the world's reserve currency (though the Pound and Yen are important and the Mark was).

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a) continue to "apathy away" like a cancer

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If that includes lack of political awareness then, yes, that could be a major contributing factor.

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b) military coup that breaks us into 4 or 5 pieces

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Not likely IMO

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c) Aids or Ebola

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Not likely IMO

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d) nuke

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That's a concern

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e) economic meltdown (cause doesn't matter)

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If we go down the world comes with us.

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g) other (please specify)

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Natural catastrophe, like a yellowstone eruption, is the most compelling

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Maybe you can add a coop to that list

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Amari?

Did you buy your food insurance, yet?

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SS and Medicare will be dramatically restructured within the next few decades

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Just like some cities are doing now with pensions.

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George Washington said political parties would be the downfall of the nation. I agree. We just couldn't make a definite decision on when that will be.

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We do have a one party system. It's called the Washington party. There is a left wing and a right wing. When you get down to the nitty gritty a politician is a politician.

When it all falls down money becomes good toilet paper.

Or fire starter.