so- if we have a "total economic collapse"- what comes out the other end...?

[dysfunctional press]

socialism? fascism? anarchy? religious fundamentalism?

would there be a rise of regional militias trying to secure "their" areas?

do we declare bankruptcy and nationalize various sectors of the economy?

it's pretty much unchartered territory for all of us- but there's no getting around the fact that we have 300million people that will want to keep on living- how's it gonna work? :shrug:

[The_Commonist]

1. Commonizm.

Or else we are all in big trouble!

[burythehatchet]

2. Nothing. History ends in 2012.

[Democrats_win]

3. Default. We tell our creditors to go f*** themselves.

Not communism. We won't get to seize the property of the aristocrats without a revolution.

[dysfunctional press]

12. the aristocrats are some of our biggest creditors.

most huge fortunes have a substantial position in t-bills.

[knowbody0]

4. we will be forced to come together on a new horizon

I'm counting on our collective spirit to find answers and sincerely have great hope for the future. Stuff has sucked for way too long, forced change is a blessing in disguise. Let's get busy first with our thoughts, following the greater good.

[HereSince1628]

5. I doubt it will be total collapse

During the crisis we will undoubtedly have a mixed economy with Government spending creating some sort of aggregate demand that keeps the economy going

Hard times always bring the religion out in people searching for psychic and physical relief. So I expect attendance at religious institutions increasing.

I can see no reason for regional militias and civil war. I don't expect unemployment to get beyond the mid-teens.


With respect to what "comes out" I expect a pretty quick return to a privately directed economy but one that is taxed pretty heavily to deal with the tremendous debt that dealing with the crisis is going to create.

To make the taxes bearable there will be a need for something to give, I think the prime candidates will be lowering health costs by slashing healthcare's administrative costs and a greatly reduced international military presence.

[fla nocount]

6. We will be left listening the Universe and it's laws, which...

know no language yet are understood by the agrarians and the indigenous. Those who can still center, ground themselves and listen will be fine. Sharing, caring and community are a natural part of our being and communal retribution, though harsh, is very effective. Leaders will morph from our masses, dust off your buffalo robe and be ready if called. Plant a garden now, you're going to need some negotiating tools other than guns...we will take your guns away if you can't be trusted with them.

[2Design]

7. well if it is like hilter rise time then evenually with the rw we get a dictator

willing to gas people and torture -

[tjwash]

8. Same thing that happenned to the Soviets in 89

The system collapses, and the country splinters into separate smaller countries.

[FarCenter]

13. But with no oil

[The2ndWheel]

9. More diversity

Which is messy, so I'd say yes to everything you listed, and probably plenty more that you didn't.

[Javaman]

10. road warriors with bad make up and lots and lots of leather. nt

[RainDog]

11. it depends on the people of this nation

if they fall in with Palin, we'll have fascism.

if they fall in with people like Van Jones, who call for a new "green collar economy" then we'll have a new economic base - a lot of jobs will be in industries that retro-fit and install and build green technologies (this is where I think we will end up in the long run - hopefully w/o more flirting with fascism like we've seen in the last 8 years. hell, it wasn't flirting, it was fucking fascism.

we may end up no longer united as states - we may end up with jesusland and arcadia and new yorkistan, among others.

all I know is that we need strong leaders now who will fight FOR the best interests of the citizens of this nation, because that is what will keep democracy viable. If we try to continue with corporatism as usual, we'll have more problems than we do now - along with a lot more violence.