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Anyone want to make a bet on when US goes bankrupt? (Fearless Blue)

Topics: Nationalities: Anyone want to make a bet on when US goes bankrupt? (Fearless Blue)

PM_Putin (Fearless Blue)

Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 07:11 am Click here to edit this post
1 trillion a year defecit... total debt = to 100% of GDP soon. The interest on the debt alone is like 300B dollars. If the economy actually stops or reverses a bit that would mean even more difficulty to borrow/repay debt. I am wondering when the game master will finally come in and say - welp buddy yer bankrupt you cant repay that debt.

I am betting that if Obama wins it will be around the 3rd year of his presidency... so around 2011-2012.

Zeta (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 04:33 pm Click here to edit this post
I'm sure China is more than willing to keep giving America money. Communism failed, so now they give the US the money to buy their products!

lol.

nix001 (Little Upsilon)

Sunday, October 19, 2008 - 03:14 am Click here to edit this post
I would say in about 7 weeks, for it will be around that time the US will ask China for some more money to try and kick start the cheap lending(even though thats what got every one into trouble in the first place), because all the last injection has done is enabled the banks to have enough money in their safes to pay the savers back if they all decided to withdraw. But China will say NO and then ask the US to start paying the previous loans back. :(
We just have to keep in mind that life is life and it's a hell of a lot better than being dead.

Faith leads to hope. Hope leads to happiness. Happiness leads to joy. Joy leads to Freedom.

Peace&Hardcore...............Nix001
MNA

VĂ¡li (Fearless Blue)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 04:50 pm Click here to edit this post
The sooner my debt disappears with the bank it is owed to the better!

Ivory Raven (White Giant)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 10:38 pm Click here to edit this post
Level 1 : Great Depression
Level 2 : George takes presidency! (Omgzor we die)
Level 3 : Great Depression evolving! - - - - - -
The Extreme Great Depression.
--------------------------------------------
Well i'm pretty young at hand and know less about the finance & cash. If United States is going bankruptcy then can't they make more money? I mean,
Who made money? Moneys will probrally extinct in fire, but i don't know who's the creator as such and such but i'm always curious if they were the creators of the current money, why can't they make more... I really don't understand. I guess i'm not human if i'm thinking about this, but it doesn't hurt to be curious :)

Ivory Raven (White Giant)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 10:42 pm Click here to edit this post
Never mind, Inflation will take result and causing the value of the money to go down. Which also means ECONOMY BREAK DOWN.

Klarina Espinosa

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 03:38 pm Click here to edit this post
Friday.

Angus88 (Little Upsilon)

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 11:24 am Click here to edit this post
I think a drastic decrease in military spending, and tax increases will be the only thing to save the US from bankruptcy during a transition from consumer based economy to something else. But the US is so anti taxes and so pro military it would be an impossible thing to sell to the public. Extreme consumerism was good while it lasted, but commodities aren't so cheap anymore, and wars weren't really cheap to begin with. If America works hard to achieve much more self reliance (to reduce massive trade deficits) while seeking to gain technological advantages and being fiscally responsible (don't vote republican for a while) then maybe it can return to its former glory. If the US keeps the status quo I can see America fade from power (and it makes me nervous to think what a falling superpower with enough nukes to destroy the planet several times over would do if it got very desperate).

Kamihiv (Little Upsilon)

Monday, December 1, 2008 - 04:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Please see: Communist Soviet Russia circa 1980's.

shane vataja (Fearless Blue)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - 08:14 pm Click here to edit this post
ild say they are now unless they do somthing that people would do im SC go raiding for money and supllies it is posable just unlikely america should blame ammerica but they should being arrogant is so much fun but they did indeed shoot them selves in the foot and die from it

Karff (Little Upsilon)

Friday, January 9, 2009 - 10:29 pm Click here to edit this post
The US has a distinct advantage in that most countries' international debt is in US dollars, so the US is the only one capable of printing off money to pay off its debt. Interestingly enough, this would probably have the side effect of paying off everyone else's debt at the same time due to the collapse of the dollar at the same time, but the point is the US is the only nation in the world that cannot go bankrupt

" (and it makes me nervous to think what a falling superpower with enough nukes to destroy the planet several times over would do if it got very desperate). "

Probably nothing. The size (both in population and land/resources) of the US, coupled with its nuclear and military arsenal, guarantee it to be a major player on the international scale for a large time.

Aleksander (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 02:00 am Click here to edit this post
The Soviet Union didn't take the world down with it. Why should the US?

I believe that the US has found the joys of socialism and they will soon reap all of the benefits of the Helleniki Demokratia *he says sarcastically*. Our debt to GDP is about 90%. We complete with Italy for the worst debt to income ratio in the EU.

Portugal has scared us a couple times and looked like it might like to compete with us for outrageous debt ratios, but they some how can't manage to mismanage public funds like the ancient empires.

Even with a couple years of $1T+ deficits, the US will only be on par with most of Europe with a ratio in the mid 40's.

Hate to tell you America haters out their, but the US is still in better financial condition than most of the world.

The Grand Poobah (Golden Rainbow)

Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 03:04 am Click here to edit this post
I believe the U.S. should legalise Marijuana. in the state of California, the medical Marijuana business brought in 13Billion Dollars. If it had been taxed the state would have made 1Billion in tax revenue. Now lets fully legalize and manufacture it. I'm thinking $100B a year profits. Something to drastically reduce those trade deficits.

Jack Frost (Little Upsilon)

Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 05:24 am Click here to edit this post
The US would figure out a way to increase expenses to counteract the revenues from marijuana but other then that I do agree

AFChairman David Walker (Golden Rainbow)

Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 09:29 am Click here to edit this post
Apparently, the US debt ratio is already about 80% of GDP.

UK's is in the late 40's I believe and I think there's an allowance to 54% but we could comfortably rise to 60% in respect to most of the rest of the developed world.

See this story fot the 80% US debt

Lou Cyphre (White Giant)

Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 04:46 pm Click here to edit this post
Im not realy that in to economic system of america but isnt alot of does loans to the private bank "natinal tresury" or someting. They print the money and gives it like a loan to the goverment.

but they also get money from dept papers that they "sell" to any one on the open market

so cant be parts of does dept just be printed money?

Aleksander (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 12:01 am Click here to edit this post
@David,

I saw that article when it came out. It is not really comparing the same figures for the 2 countries. It is comparing all public (Federal, state, and municipal) of the US to GB's national government debt.

Matthew Haataja (Little Upsilon)

Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 05:19 am Click here to edit this post
Lol's at this subject. Continued mismanagement= fail, epic fail, Thee epic fail. My prediction bancrupcy 6-12 years.(no reasoning behind said timeframe, but trust me if something doesn't change drasticly, it is going bancrupt)

From My Shrine in the Northwoods,

Yooper

Adler Asterozoa (White Giant)

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 07:04 am Click here to edit this post
I know this is a year-old conversation, but listen up! I'd like to update this thing with some idea in mind.

Look at history. If there was one civlization that influenced the creation of America, it's Rome. Apparently though, it seems that our fall is likely to be the same as theirs. We have a republic - they did also. But the thing is, when crises struck, the Romans saw an era of corruption, debt, and suspicion - the very scenario which is ripe for Empires to rise. America is going thorugh this stage of civilization; the country's democracy will not last any longer if these debts, political parties, wars, corruption (e.g. bribery from oil companies), and disunion are completely suppressed from existence, but this however is IMPOSSIBLE. The very republic we created by and for the people is giving way to new, dark Empire.

Brace yourselves. It will be tough ride from then on. And then, our civilization will dissipate all together. Which in turn, the conspiracy will find another entity in which to place power upon their behalf. So, watch what's happening. We all hope that I'm wrong...

Psycho_Honey

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 07:08 pm Click here to edit this post
We are already bankrupt. We have been for a very long time. We sold bonds to fight WWII I'm sure we were bankrupt long before then. Not sure how anyone assumed we aren't bankrupt now. The printed and borrowed money is all that remains, if that isn't bankrupt I don't know what is. It is like a person 10s of thousands of dollars deep in CC debt, yet continues borrowing against his/her credit rating. In truth this person is bankrupt, but technically not considered bankrupt until they make an offical bankruptcy filing. So Filed or not, technically or not, the US and that person is bankrupt. That fact will always remain. The downward spiral has already taken its course and the disease that is the Federal Reserve and the fractional reserve Banking system is the death of the entire world's true wealth. The world is broke, forget the United States, everyone is borrowing and will continue to do so until we see some major changes in the way we live and consume resources as a society. You can find more information about the ridiculousness of our Global financial setup in my video series "The Truth Project" on my Blog.

Blueserpent (Golden Rainbow)

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 08:26 pm Click here to edit this post
*CONSPIRACY*

Laguna

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 09:08 pm Click here to edit this post
**CONSPIRACY!!!**

Psycho_Honey

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 11:37 pm Click here to edit this post
If you are gonna do it, do right.

**CONSPIRACY!!!**

Hey Blue and LAGUNA!!!

Laguna

Friday, December 10, 2010 - 12:26 am Click here to edit this post
LOOOL!!!

Can you imagine if my name was Lagoon... I would be the guy and Blue the girl. ;0

Psycho_Honey

Friday, December 10, 2010 - 04:14 am Click here to edit this post
o.0

hehe, been a loong time since I thought of that movie. thx for the memory and the visual Lagoon(a)!

Adler Asterozoa (White Giant)

Monday, December 13, 2010 - 05:04 am Click here to edit this post
-__-

Another word I can choose?

Woodrow (Kebir Blue)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 05:41 pm Click here to edit this post
What I don't understand is who all the countries in major debt owe money too? Investors?

Brian The Terrible (White Giant)

Monday, December 20, 2010 - 07:18 am Click here to edit this post
China owns Most of the USA cash and Germany Bailed out Greece?

Psycho_Honey (Little Upsilon)

Monday, December 20, 2010 - 10:07 pm Click here to edit this post
The IMF issues/purchases most all world debt. All central banks draw from the IMF. Do not be naive.

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Friday, April 22, 2011 - 05:17 am Click here to edit this post
Long time since a post, but w/ever. I'll say if the Republicans win the next election, it'll be the third year of the presidency, if a Democrat, probably about six months later. I hate this system.

Tom Morgan (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 01:35 am Click here to edit this post
Suprisingly America' Bitch (known as Australia to some) has survived the downturn fine. One Australian Dollar is now worth 1.08 American Dollars, an all time high which shows the American Dollar had depreciated quite a bit. If America goes under though we're screwed coz we'll be overrun by China.

Maestro2000 (Golden Rainbow)

Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 10:01 pm Click here to edit this post
The US will never go bankrupt. They will simply print more money.

Danny Miller (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 11:52 pm Click here to edit this post
We (US) will make a deal with the IMF to forgive our debt and we will lose our freedom. "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender".

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Sunday, May 22, 2011 - 05:24 am Click here to edit this post
Well, the Chinese economy is slated to overtake the U.S. in 2016. I figure that they'll be knocking on our doorsteps a few years later. So I don't think that we'll go bankrupt, since China is eventually going to start outspending us on the military, then land there boats in San Fransisco and roll right over us until they've established they're the dominant force on the planet.

rep (Little Upsilon)

Thursday, May 26, 2011 - 06:03 pm Click here to edit this post
As a matter of fact China's true military spending, according to The Asian Times, is already more than the US, both in real terms and as a percentage of GDP. Better practice up on our Mandarin language.
Also, within the next couple years it's the military's turn to take over China's leadership. I don't fully understand their system, but apparently their Politburo switches back and forth from civilian to military leadership every so many years.

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 04:58 am Click here to edit this post
I already have been boning up on Mandarin. Although I'd much rather have the nuclear launch codes for when they roll their tanks through my home. I'm not going down without a fight! Gimmee a shotgun, a Glock, and a combat knife, and when they come on through I'll take down as many of them as I can. I just hope I turn 18 before the military takes over so that I can have those firearms when it happens.

alan watt (White Giant)

Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 07:12 pm Click here to edit this post
This has all been planned for decades in advance. China is to be the next world policeman as well as producer of goods. Name something of substance we still produce? Even our weapons components come from China.

I wouldn't ignore Russia either, they're doing quite well with energy supplies and have the scientific background and a strong military-industrial complex. I trust my AK-47 for home defense.

That's a wicked partnership.
I doubt they invade, they'll just bully us the way we have others for years.

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 08:51 pm Click here to edit this post
Here's what I think will happen. The Chinese military will take over the politburo whenever, and they will rapidly become expansionist. Two possibilities here: China takes over several southern countries, at which point the United States will probably attempt to intervene. We deploy troops in southern Asian countries, and while not actually declaring war on China, a second Cold War will start, with diplomacy between the United States and China breaking down. Russia and the European Union will most likely come in on the side of the United States, with Japan most likely on the side of China, if it isn't quickly taken over. Eventually, after expanding to the south and the west, China will invade Russia, at which point Russia will declare war on China, the U.S., trying to protect the Russian oil fields, will declare war on China, some members of the European Union will declare on China, with most remaining neutral. Eventually, in a last ditch attempt to win the war, Russia will drop the bomb on China, at which point China responds with more nukes. The United States, assuming that the Russian oil fields are still intact, will then use nuclear force on China. China will nuke the western half of the U.S., leaving most of the earth uninhabitable, most likely with two thirds of the population of the earth killed during the actual nuclear exchange, with most of Asia and the majority of the northern hemisphere empty of human life. Parts of Africa will become radioactive, with South America most likely becoming the least affected continent, after Antarctica. The nuclear exchange will cause a huge nuclear winter, and the radiation in the water may destroy most aquatic life. After the nuclear winter, humanity may well be gone.

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 09:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Now the second possibility is that China, deciding that the best chance for expansionism is to take down the U.S. first, at which point they invade. A sneak attack on west coast states will likely occur at the same time as attacks on Alaska and Hawaii, quickly establishing a base of operations for attack on inland states. As the United States erodes away, the military will become more and more desperate. NATO will most likely do nothing, and eventually, the U.S. border will be down to the Great Plains area. When this happens, the U.S. will start evacuating cities, and as the Chinese get closer and closer to Washington, nukes will most likely be fired. China fires back, and the jet stream carriers the radiation around the planet. In North America, everything north of Virginia will be destroyed, but only to the east of, say, mid-Tennessee. Large parts of eastern China will be destroyed, and the wind will probably carry radiation to Japan, killing a lot of people there. Some blasts in the remaining northern U.S. will carry radiation into Canada, where the jet stream will carry it to Europe and Russia. Hundreds of millions of people will be killed, leaving most of north Europe, Russia, China, the east coast of North America, Canada, Alaska, and the northern west coast drastically depopulated, along with Japan, and most likely North Korea and parts of South Korea.

Accordion_This (Little Upsilon)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - 01:54 am Click here to edit this post
South America? Pah. You forget Australia! SOON WE SHALL RULE THE WORLD! MAAAAAAAAD MAAAAAAAAAAAX

rep (Little Upsilon)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - 04:41 am Click here to edit this post
Yeah, Australia would be pretty good in the extremely unlikely event of a nuclear winter. And since it's getting on to your meteorological winter, don't forget your jacket when you go to the beach ;)!

Much more likely scenario would be through the Korean peninsula, with a possible coordinated attack on Taiwan to split the U.S. response.

China and Japan allies? Those two countries have a hate for each other that goes back a couple thousand years. Hate might be a little strong nowadays, but allies, never.

Alan, bingo on both your comments. The only thing the Chinese have more of than people is patience. Their civilization is as old as the hills, and they have a sense of superiority that rivals the French.

And Russia is definitely reemerging. The modernization of their military is going full blast, and their nuke program modernization far outstrips ours. (their new tank looks pretty awesome and it's SUPPOSED to be as good as our Abrams) I don't think it likely they would partner in a serious way with China (unless it is to smack the U.S. down a notch) because they have problems with China. Both Russia and China claim all the "stans" (Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan, etc.)as their own.

Now, IF they came to an agreement on that, it could very much be a scary scene. Possible coordinated Chinese incursion into Korea and Taiwan; at the same time a Russian move into the Baltics and Eastern Europe. Big problem.

alan watt (White Giant)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 02:50 am Click here to edit this post
Woodrow had a good question: who do countries actually owe all this debt to?

Well, there are some unbelievably wealthy private families that don't appear on the forbes list at all, they are well beyond that. They shun the spotlight, and raked in trillions upon trillions of dollars from behind the scenes. They are the shareholders of the private central banks, in part through ownership of the member banks of this giant money lending cartel, which include the largest commercial banks in the developed world.

Where did the private central banks get so much money to lend in the beginning? Watch the brief 30 minute doc Money as Debt to understand.

alan watt (White Giant)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 03:01 am Click here to edit this post
Rep, check out the new russian 5th generation fighter that is not far off from production, the pak-fa. They've partnered with india for some of the avionics/software, but the plane itself looks great and builds on previous designs. From what I can tell it will be a match for an f-22 but able to deliver ground ordinance as well, all for a lower price than it's counterpart(s).

The f-35 is not only having development problems and at about double the original budget, but has been simulated against possible future opponents and it's air combat performance might be closer to a 4.5 gen fighter. Basically it's an expensive super hornet with some stealth. The history channel program hyping it talking about future dogfights was hilarious :D

alan watt (White Giant)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 03:03 am Click here to edit this post
BTW a chinese official recently said Russian-Chinese Relations are at and "all-time high". Look it up. They are founding members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

rep (Little Upsilon)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 09:41 am Click here to edit this post
Hey Alan,

I've seen shots of the pak-fa. As my nephew says "wicked frosty".

Saw that history channel show. You're right, it was a ROFLMAO program.

The point about the central banks is definitely valid. A lot of people don't realize that the Federal Reserve is NOT a Federal government agency. I have had a problem with that for a LONG time. Thank FDR for that one. Along with confiscating all privately held gold during the depression in order to force people to change over to strictly paper money.

Sidebar history lesson: The U.S. election of 1896 had as a major issue whether to allow silver coinage to be issued. The country was in the midst of a depression, the money supply was extremely low because the only federally recognized coinage were copper and gold. The Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan, ran on a platform of "free silver", wanting the U.S. to begin using the abundant silver reserves in coins to free up more capital and "stimulate" the economy. His Republican opponent William McKinley ran on a platform that repudiated the claim that minting silver coins would solve the country's problems. He won in a landslide.

I'm sorry, but I wrote an article on the topic recently, and couldn't resist throwing it in there!

The key thing is that, until the federal reserve came into being, every paper bill printed HAD to be backed up by an equal amount of gold or silver (which obviously the U.S. did eventually adopt). That's why if you see an old paper bill it will say either "silver certificate" or "gold certificate" on it.

Richard Nixon sealed our fate when he removed us from the gold standard. Before that the money supply was still "loosely" tied to the gold and silver reserves in the government coffers.

Okay, getting carried away. Is there hope for the U.S? Yeah, there's always hope. Are we approaching a tipping point? HELL yes.

Things are so bad that there is a move on to replace the U.S. dollar with the Euro as the "currency of trade".

I did research the Shanghai Coop. Org. and you're right, Russian/Chinese relations are at their highest level since the 1940s. Something to keep a close eye on.

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Friday, June 10, 2011 - 05:21 pm Click here to edit this post
Hmmm.... Russia and China, the two largest countries on earth, as allies.... I can see how that could be extremely bad.

Crafty (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 12:49 am Click here to edit this post
Your OK, the Brits will bail you out again :p

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 09:12 pm Click here to edit this post
F**k that, give me an assault rifle and a box of ammo and I'll run those sons of bitches out of town as soon as they cross the city line.

The Walking Glitch (Little Upsilon)

Monday, June 20, 2011 - 07:44 am Click here to edit this post
"I know this is a year-old conversation, but listen up! I'd like to update this thing with some idea in mind.

Look at history. If there was one civlization that influenced the creation of America, it's Rome. Apparently though, it seems that our fall is likely to be the same as theirs. We have a republic - they did also. But the thing is, when crises struck, the Romans saw an era of corruption, debt, and suspicion - the very scenario which is ripe for Empires to rise. America is going thorugh this stage of civilization; the country's democracy will not last any longer if these debts, political parties, wars, corruption (e.g. bribery from oil companies), and disunion are completely suppressed from existence, but this however is IMPOSSIBLE. The very republic we created by and for the people is giving way to new, dark Empire.

Brace yourselves. It will be tough ride from then on. And then, our civilization will dissipate all together. Which in turn, the conspiracy will find another entity in which to place power upon their behalf. So, watch what's happening. We all hope that I'm wrong..."

^Correct

I am thankful to have a full gun safe right outside my bedroom, and to be extremely good with weapons. I WILL run those motherfuckers outta my 1500 person town, and 350mil+ person country, until I am nuked up the ass!

Billy_Bob_Joe_Bob_Steve (Kebir Blue)

Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 05:29 pm Click here to edit this post
It's already started, it started when we gained independence from the British. Only the rich have ever been able to get elected to President and most other powerful positions, with a few exceptions. This is not a republic, or even a democracy, it's more like an aristocracy where we decide which rich guy to put in office. Even then, it's mostly influenced by money. Our nation is already an empire; just look at Iraq, Afghanistan, and our attempts in Korea and Vietnam: with the former two we installed puppet governments, and I'm sure we would have if we had won Vietnam and Korea. And we have territories all over the world.

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, October 1, 2011 - 01:58 am Click here to edit this post
I would give the US 3-5 years before they're whole economy comes crashing down.

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 - 02:50 pm Click here to edit this post
It comes down to the fact money is created from thin air by banks against DEBT. Stupidest system ever created and started from deception by money lenders.

Remove debt, you remove money.

Money = Debt

Alternatives anyone?

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - 04:49 pm Click here to edit this post
Umm maybe go communist? Haha jk jk.

http://international-proletariat.webs.com//PdAI%20Mani.pdf
Here's my official solution to the problem (click on the link above). I posted this one in the forum before. I am just trying to raise awareness of this system that I invented. I call it "Proletariat Internationalism". I spend the first 3 chapters basically insulting and bashing all the existing economic systems, and then I introduce my own system. The sales pitch is that there is no limit to the industrial and military power of a proletariat internationalist state, nor is there poverty, hunger, or homelessness; only labor, freedom, and an opportunity for all to achieve greatness. Theoretically, this will all be true of such a state, if it ever gets adopted by any nation.

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Thursday, October 6, 2011 - 01:36 pm Click here to edit this post
Not having read it (Busy atm :)) but any system based on labour is doomed. Automation is key. Computers will do it all. Need a system that allows for this.

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Thursday, October 6, 2011 - 06:54 pm Click here to edit this post
Machines take jobs away from humans. They may be more efficient, but what will the workers do? Idle workers don't contribute anything. You gotta give them something to do. To create more jobs, we need to ditch the machines and just do it the old-fashioned way. That would also make the fruits of the labor all the more sweet when they get home after a day, hard at work.

Crafty (Little Upsilon)

Thursday, October 6, 2011 - 08:29 pm Click here to edit this post
Haha, SP is a luddite!

Get real.

Garry Freeman (White Giant)

Thursday, October 6, 2011 - 09:57 pm Click here to edit this post
the world needs to discontinue this obsession with wealth, asap.

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 03:51 am Click here to edit this post
+1 Garry Freeman!

Tallisabeth Selis (White Giant)

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 09:08 am Click here to edit this post
Uh, Billy Bob, in response to your post saying that Japan would ally with China, that will only happen when PRC takes control of Japan and kills of the people. Because while China tolerates American, and barely likes most of it's neighbors on the mainland, they HATE the Japanese. They have a long memory, and until the Emperor of Japan himself admits to the wrongdoings that Imperial Japan inflicted on China during WWII, China will be happy just wiping them out.

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 11:02 am Click here to edit this post

Quote:

Machines take jobs away from humans. They may be more efficient, but what will the workers do? Idle workers don't contribute anything. You gotta give them something to do. To create more jobs, we need to ditch the machines and just do it the old-fashioned way. That would also make the fruits of the labor all the more sweet when they get home after a day, hard at work.




The point of machines is that we don't have to work. Get a hobbie and enjoy life. I know it's hard to imagine a life without a 'job' because we have been in that situation for so many years.

We need to embrace automation but within a non-labour economy. Become thinkers, scientists, fathers and mothers.

Crafty (Fearless Blue)

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 05:07 pm Click here to edit this post
When machines can think for themselves might be the time to start worrying about all this. Until then I love taking machines apart, fixing them, or demolishing them in the most creative way I can think of :)

Laguna

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 07:01 pm Click here to edit this post
Oh yes, I most certainly sound most intelligent advancing a date for the US's bankruptcy and half-assed concoctionned reasons. Either that or an idiot.

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Friday, October 7, 2011 - 11:26 pm Click here to edit this post
If there is no labor, nobody gets anything out of it. You never get paid, so you don't have any money to spend (assuming a capitalistic scenario). If big companies want to exploit us, why not work us to death while they're at it? They can at least be honest about exploiting our hard labor, instead of hiding their greed in advertisements and in salary cuts, and having machines, who they don't even need to pay, manufacture everything. The least they can do is pay actual human workers to labor all day while they take advantage of us and backstab us! At least we would be doing something productive.

Crafty (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 01:00 am Click here to edit this post
Wouldn't your shit be better put to use on your self-sustaining vegetable patch SP?

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 01:43 am Click here to edit this post
Crafty, you never stop picking on people, do you? After this post, I am never going to dignify you with an answer on any posts you make. I'm sick of you, so I am going to ignore you.

Now does anybody else have anything to say that might actually be worth my attention?

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 06:02 am Click here to edit this post
SP when I refer to a different system, i do refer to a system other then a capitalist one.

Or a capitalist system that doesn't focus on labour. Labour is only going to get smaller while the population gets bigger.

The farming industry held 80% of the work force once. now holds 3% (due to automation)

Most of the labour moved to services and now that is becoming automated (ATMs, Automatic ticketers, internet, entire factory made replaceable units that don't require servicing (like iphones, even fridges and other white goods don't require services, just replace) etc)

What industry can we open up for labour now? I don't see a labour market thriving in the future.


Quote:

A social, political and economic movement that aims for an establishment of a classless and stateless communist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production, free access to articles of consumption, and which abolishes the end of wage labour and private property in the means of production and real estate.




The definition, at least in theory, of the above sounds pretty good. Guess what it is?

The problem with the above is bad leadership.

There has to be a better system. Right?

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 06:16 am Click here to edit this post
Another one of the problems people bring up in a non capitalism system is the lack of technological advance due to greed for money being such a strong motivator (I agree it is. I'm a business owner and money drives me to expand and work.

But saying that. Some of the best scientists, inventors and thinkers have come from people not looking for money or have any interest in it.

Surely there would be enough people like this to advance technology and ideas without money incentive?

Crafty (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 02:29 pm Click here to edit this post
Haha, you should listen to yourself SP, you yak absolute bollocks and then say I am picking on people (no, only you) when I express my contempt of your ignorance.

I do not suffer fools gladly, never have and never will. Grow up and get some life experience, get a job, get a family, mortgage, insurances, responsibilities, and you might find your naive hippy outlook changes.

But anyway, it's not for me to attempt to stop you posting, but it's not for you to deny me my opinion either, so live with it.

Crafty (Kebir Blue)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 02:45 pm Click here to edit this post
And raging pencil, I found most academics (scientists, engineers, etc) do it purely for the thirst for knowledge, agreed, not the quest for money. Unfortunately they need funding, their work can only be done at a cost, most all research is sponsored by big business who ultimately expect a reward for their investments... (see the pharma industry). The days of the home alchemist or wheel inventing caveman are over, with some rare exceptions. Also, you seem to get the impression that a manual workforce is disappearing, where do you get that information from when any developed country is crying out for people who can actually DO things, engineers, doctors, chemists, computer programmers etc etc. Having any of those sorts of skills is half the ticket to getting citizenship in the UK, the US, Australia, and those are only 3 I personally know about. Thats what is happening as technology and civilisation advances (?), ok we dont need so many coal miners or fruit pickers, but we do need more blue collar.

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 05:16 pm Click here to edit this post
I agree labour is still in demand. But as you know, 6 billion people in 1999 and now 7 billion by the end of october. Thats a huge increase in just over a decade.

Do you really expect the labour market to continue to grow in future years?

Our labour based market is holding back automation for obvious reasons and I honestly don't see another booming labour industry where humans can't be replaced.

Look at the car manufacturing business. Mostly done my robots now with only supervisors monitoring. It wasn't that long ago when it was 100% human labour.

It's hard to grasp but being replaced doesn't have to be a bad thing like the scifi movies. It could make our lives far better dispite our seemingly built-in drive to work and earn money.

Remove money completely? Let the thinkers and scientists find cures for our problems, build new technology etc for purely this 'thurst for knowledge' as you mention.

If in 50 years I can get on my computer (i'll be 75 then lol), order some food and a new car and let machines grow, build and deliver it to my door, then why not? I can sit at home all day and play simcountry, right? (joke, i'll be teaching my grandson to fish)

Anyway, it's interesting to think about it.

Good night!

Crafty (Little Upsilon)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 09:22 pm Click here to edit this post
Maybe the world needs to raise its education index :)

Maestro2000 (White Giant)

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 09:24 pm Click here to edit this post
The US will just print more money. No need to go bankrupt....

RagingPencil (White Giant)

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 04:21 am Click here to edit this post
Only problem is it doesn't solve the monetary system problems and will only delay it and make it worse in the future. Oh and not to mention that the dollar will drop in value but a completely ridiculous amount. Which Im sure you wouldnt want. :)

Laguna

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 12:13 pm Click here to edit this post
Really, Pencil? Please expound. Lest you all forget, taxes can be raised too, they don't only go down.

Crafty (Kebir Blue)

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 02:46 pm Click here to edit this post
I thought the danger of quantative easing was inflation LG. I dont see how taxes compensate for that, but then I have a poor grasp of economics.

Maestro2000 (Fearless Blue)

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 03:06 pm Click here to edit this post
Did anyone try to copy a free coupon and cash it in at a supermarket?

We have a rash of it these days locally.

Laguna

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 03:33 pm Click here to edit this post
Quantitative easing exchanges long-tem illiquid assets for the most liquid asset of them all, cash. As the monetary base remains constant, the impact on inflation is marginal, and even doubtful on our situation. Still, it is better than the alternative - doing nothing.

Following the quantitative theory of money, the way quantitative easing might have an impact is by increasing the velocity of money. However, in a liquidity trap the velocity of money tends to precipitate... like this. Some argued the money from quantitative easing made way to speculation on commodity markets back this Summer, but that was temporary and the main drive there are the growing economies of India and China.


The point of raising taxes is to balance the budget to make US debt sustainable. It is an untimely concern, but debt sustainability is a long-term issue.

Supreme Proletariat (Little Upsilon)

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 04:53 pm Click here to edit this post
Lol print more money. Yes, I'm sure that solves all our problems. Like the dollar isn't inflated enough already, right? Haha

Laguna

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 05:17 pm Click here to edit this post
Ha ha. You are hitting your keyboard and you aren't saying anything. Ha ha.

Crafty (Fearless Blue)

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 10:19 pm Click here to edit this post
The way I understand the last round of QE, govt bonds (illiquid assets) where bought from banks and institutions for hard cash. This cash was supposed to make the banks more confident in lending and so the money would influence growth.
But banks being banks, they just kept the cash in their coffers. Why this latest round in the UK should be any different beats me. A large portion of it will end up in bonuses. Anyway, I am sure it is not that simple.

RagingPencil (Little Upsilon)

Monday, October 10, 2011 - 02:57 pm Click here to edit this post
commercial banks don't lend. they create. I don't like the word lol

better yet, scrap the need for a reserve like them swedes and aussies :)


Quote:


Really, Pencil? Please expound. Lest you all forget, taxes can be raised too, they don't only go down.




whats that got to do with inflation? raising taxes doesn't contract monies. or does the above comment relate to something other then my last comment?

Tallisabeth Selis (White Giant)

Sunday, October 16, 2011 - 11:28 am Click here to edit this post
wow, such heated arguments. makes me wanna get the popcorn and just read along.

Matt Patton (Golden Rainbow)

Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 09:55 pm Click here to edit this post
I say quite the killing terrorist war and come home. I don't think we will be able to kill every terrorist
unconventional wars are like impossible to win
either that or find more ways to get funds
like for every war flick the US gets x% of the revenue

Uggla (Kebir Blue)

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 06:56 am Click here to edit this post
Spoiler:


To bad 2012 will happen first ;)

Tom Morgan (Kebir Blue)

Friday, January 20, 2012 - 07:14 am Click here to edit this post
Right. Just like Y2K and that day that religeous nut kept rambling on about to happen in April(later postponed to October).

I think everyone is overlooking the real danger in today's economy- the Chinese Housing Bubble.

Psycho_Honey (Little Upsilon)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 06:22 pm Click here to edit this post
Good eye on you tom.

This more threatens Australia because your currency is becoming ever more entwined with that of China and Japan.

The investment fad that for the last decade to protect US investment portfolio's has been emerging markets, like India and China. I'm not surprised that that you as an Aussie would be well aware of such developments.

Quetzalcoatl

Monday, April 30, 2012 - 07:27 am Click here to edit this post
I respect all of you as good players on simcountry, but your views on economics both macro and micro, your views on monetary policy and fiscal policy, your views on the banking system, political science specifically global politics is a load of @@@@. Only one person gave an okay answer and it was mediocre at best. The U.S as the global economic and military superpower is assured. I'm not going to explain myself, because you need only read some books on economics, geography, history, finance, science and weekly economic reports. If you do this than I need not explain myself and you will know the answer.

maclean

Monday, April 30, 2012 - 09:57 am Click here to edit this post
Ha! everyone knows it is a conspiracy that started with the Federal Reserve, which is neither federal nor a reserve, and they were even manipulated by the Tri-Lateralists and the Bilderburgers before they were taken over by the Illuminati. The U.N. and the Freemasons masterminded the post-19th century globalization and currency manipulation, using Skull and Bones as a training facility, the Bohemian Grove as a recruitment center, and the CIA and KGB (who are both run by the FBI) as enforcers. :) :)
Did I miss anybody? No, Jack Daniel says I pretty much covered it. Well, the only ones I can tell you about, anyway...

Quetzalcoatl

Monday, April 30, 2012 - 09:58 am Click here to edit this post
Lol

marshal.ney

Friday, May 4, 2012 - 03:54 am Click here to edit this post
The US as a global power is in it's sunset years. Once oil production sharply declines, it's military adventures will be over. The US developed South Vietnam's military in a similar fashion to their own, but once they pulled out, S. Vietnam rapidly lost - in part due to being unable to sustain the high tech, oil intensive structure of their forces. Many at the time thought the US would never leave, as the largest military base outside the US was in Cam Ranh Bay. And I think "peak oil" will be coming sooner than any official predictions. All of the OPEC countries have had the exact or nearly exact estimates of reserves for over two decades - despite increasing pumping rates.

The US economy is also tied too closely to oil, with few if any provisions to remedy the situation. (What little of the US economy that actually exists. Most of the industry is gone.) Other countries have heavily taxed oil, the US would have been wise to start pursuing that policy back in the early 70's; and using a portion of that to research and develop viable alternative technologies.

With the US economy being so unbalanced with a large segment of it being devoted to debt servicing, other countries are increasingly turning to China as an option. The increasing trade between Russia and China, and now China is looking to the Eastern European countries as well.

China's foreign policy may seem to be more attractive to the rest of the world as well.

Empires have consistently lost out when there was a massive change in the "mudsill" their economy rested on. England's decline juxtaposed with the transition from coal to oil, to cite an example.

So I respectfully disagree with the feathered serpent. Of the sources cited, many are suspect and do not belong in the same categories as the others. Economic theory is chancy at best, since no one really knows if any of it works. History and it's interpretation will vary depending on who wrote it and what axe they have to grind. Neither one of these should be compared to a hard science like geography.

If you want a prediction, the US economy will fail before it's military, but not by a large margin.

Phoenix King

Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 03:40 am Click here to edit this post
LOL, the us has enough energy in the ground right here at home to last 250 years, natural gas, and other types of energy.

Marshal Ney

Sunday, May 20, 2012 - 12:55 am Click here to edit this post
Unfortunately, most of the US industry isn't geared for natural gas, but oil. We still have plenty of coal too. But it's going to be a major undertaking to convert back. And neither have the same benefits as cheap oil.

I'm interested in the 250 year comment. Is that based on current consumption of all energy? Or did they extrapolate the way US energy demands are increasing? 283.9 trillion cubic feet of gas sounds like a lot - about a 1000 year supply at current/recent consumption levels. But current consumption of natural gas, shale gas, and plant liquids would stay nowhere near the current consumption levels.

And that is of course, if we can trust the estimates. As with Oil reserves staying the same in so many oil exporting companies for years, our reported energy reserves have constantly increased.

But, with the high price of conversion home heating systems and water heating systems - that's going to put it beyond the reach of many.

The costs and problems of switching off it for transportation and industrial use are even more frightening for the US.

Those are going to cause huge dislocations in American lifestyles. And that is something US politicians have traditionally avoided.

Gunther Shamus

Sunday, May 20, 2012 - 06:40 am Click here to edit this post
the US will always be a force to reckon with due to our large natural resources arable land and population among other things though I would expect in the event of a large decline in global influence the US would revert to isolationist policies and people would not experiance very good incomes and employment but short of a crazy invasion by a country we will remain strong we have more guns then anyone just in the hands of private citizens so any countries attempting an invasion would be hard pressed id reckon it would have to be a joint operation conducted most likely by the Canadians and Mexicans as the Chinese don't have enough boats to bring there stick wielding clay soldiers over here as all there boats would be busy shipping there soldiers back in body bags

Crafty

Monday, May 21, 2012 - 04:10 pm Click here to edit this post
With intelligence fast becoming the major weapon of any warfare, I'm afraid the Americans are virtually un-armed :P

Marshal Ney

Monday, May 21, 2012 - 11:02 pm Click here to edit this post
Why would the Chinese need boats? Wouldn't they simply just ferry soldiers into Venezuela, and come up by land.? They are already deepening economic ties to this country - especially since it's oil reserves are expected to be about twice that of the US. And those Iranian missile bases planned there would provide some cover wouldn't they?

Yes, the United States has a lot of firearms. We did in the Korean conflict as well. Without US development of nuclear artillery shells and tank rounds there would have been no truce, and it would have led to a rapid defeat for US forces. Ridgeway was holding his own, but the addition of another 9 Chinese Army groups would have had the US hoping for a Dunkirk like miracle.

And if the oil goes, so does all the manufacturing etc that depends on it. Our stick wielding soldiers vs their stick wielding soldiers is a no-win situation.

Gunther Shamus

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 03:37 am Click here to edit this post
the Chinese are not as well trained as American troops and their navy stands no chance and I'm hopeful that our generals would not be so stupid to allow any large gathering of Chinese troops in the Americas so yes you require boats to get across the Pacific ocean

and crafty that deserves a lol though we have smart people hence the largest producer of millionaires in the world our education system is simply not up to par which is depressing considering the ammount we spend on military 40% of all the worlds military spending yah China wouldn't stand a chance especially since many other developed country's would undoubtedly come in on our side north Korea doesn't count....if Korea was in America China wouldn't even consider fighting against America they only managed to "win" because they are right next to it and just send waves of human soldiers

Gunther Shamus

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 03:40 am Click here to edit this post
and yes to ferry troops you need boats and by default a proper Navy which the US is the only blue water navy and the Pacific is bluewater

Marshal Ney

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 05:35 pm Click here to edit this post
Point to you Gunther. Until China develops more military transport, or goes the German route and tries to enlist the Latin American countries into their cause.

Laguna

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 08:29 pm Click here to edit this post
Let us just return on topic here for a second:


Quote:

Anyone want to make a bet on when US goes bankrupt?




Quote:

I am betting that if Obama wins it will be around the 3rd year of his presidency... so around 2011-2012.



2011 belongs in the past, along with almost half of 2012 and still - still - there's no signal of bankruptcy for the US at hand. Amazing!

Gunther Shamus

Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 02:00 am Click here to edit this post
haha you've been waiting for that

Laguna

Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 04:44 pm Click here to edit this post
You can say that again!

I have the idea this thread started shortly after I joined.

Wilhelm III

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 12:42 am Click here to edit this post
America is getting better and 2012 is in the past so no rwecdhfejasx rewhdc erhws

Scarlet

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 03:27 am Click here to edit this post
Prophecy: I'll bet the United States can support several times it's GDP in debt. Once the creditors start calling, we'll ignore them for several decades saying that we can't pay right now but if they don't want a world financial collapse, they better wait. After waiting and the debt climbing higher, we'll just pretend we never borrowed the money and stick our middle finger at China... probably will result in some kind of world financial collapse, but it'll recover somehow.

So no, the US will never go bankrupt. We'll rewrite history so that we never borrowed the money.

Crafty

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 - 10:10 pm Click here to edit this post
No you wont, for I shall be here to remind you.

bigsatanloaf

Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 04:10 pm Click here to edit this post
The depletion of cheap and easy to extract carbon based energy will cause international markets to contract enormously because of sharply escalating transaction costs. In effect, this will cause a global jubilee that cancels all debts.

The sooner the better, as the preservation of a livable climate absolutely depends on developing human-scale localized economies.

Like virtually every other animal, we'll probably exhaust our limited resources to the stage where a catastrophic population drop is inevitable, rather than prudently adapt our lifestyles to the changing reality.

Google: "john calhoun rat city" for a preview of how human social interactions are likely to evolve once we're "over the hump" so to speak.

Crafty

Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 05:01 pm Click here to edit this post
So the world is going to end? Good.

Tallisibeth na Colliete

Friday, February 1, 2013 - 11:15 pm Click here to edit this post
....Wait, the world can't end. I need to conquer it first.

Scarlet

Saturday, February 2, 2013 - 12:41 am Click here to edit this post
The world ends for about 150,000 people every day.

Tallisibeth na Colliete

Saturday, February 2, 2013 - 01:33 am Click here to edit this post
.......Sometimes, you're scary when it comes to statistics.


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