European Union Collapse Thread

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

At this point it doesn't matter. I truly believe we're headed for a total economic collapse far worse than the great depression. What rises from the ashes is anyone's guess but I AM WORRIED. It's just not looking good.

I agree with you. There was a piece awhile back comparing similarities between Rome at the end of its time as empire and the USA now (bloated military, foreign wars, etc) but I can't find it now.

I always enjoy your political posts, Coach, because I think you're very smart and I share your cynicism about a lot of things. And you're funny. My issue with Libertarianism is that, to me, it's one of those lines of thinking that depend on a belief that human beings are, at their core, honorable, and that given the chance, we'd all prefer to play on a level field. And I just don't think that's so. I think that, given the opportunity, most people who make it will gladly tilt the field and then pull the ladder up after themselves (apologies for the mixed metaphor). I think it's human nature.

I'm not saying the regulations we have now are the right ones, or even work well, largely because a lot of them are written by the very companies that are seeking to keep the ladder pulled up after them. It's one of the things that annoys me about Ayn Randites- a lot of them completely ignore that, in her magnum opus, one of the biggest villains was a crony capitalist, and that she would, were she around today, have huge contempt for the Jesus-heavy GOP- she hated Ronald Reagan- and the Wall Street/government relationship (yes, I confess; in my teens I read a lot of Ayn Rand. A lot). But even Rand had to compromise with the real world- she went on Medicare when she was older because she couldn't afford her medical bills. And she collected Social Security. And if real life could put a financial squeeze on her, what does it say about what it can do to the rest of us?

But I don't know what the solution is. I'm also really worried. We had a kid last year, and while he's the light and joy of my life, I sometimes wonder if bringing him into the world was a big mistake, because I don't have a lot of hope for what kind of a world he'll grow up into.