Is America going to collapse?

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octafish

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Apr 23, 2010
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Ossian said:
snip
What do you think? Are we going to survive or should I start speaking Indian/Chinese?
Don't bother learning Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi or the rest, India's second language is English, as for Mandarin, it really can't hurt but I wouldn't bother with Cantonese or any of the other languages.
Zechnophobe said:
I have a completely steady job and make good money. I've rather become MORE effluent in the past few years. So honestly, I don't even know what the problem is? What kind of jobs are you trying for that are so hard to get?
Really? Effluent? Come on that is too much. I was drinking when I read your post and now I have to clean my keyboard. Funniest thing I've read in ages and you probably didn't even mean it.
 

Thaluikhain

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Jan 16, 2010
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Zechnophobe said:
It's like, one side argues based on drama. OMG not everyone agreed all at once! The other side has evidence. This isn't a soap opera man. Just because harsh words are said doesn't mean the CO2 levels aren't the highest they've been in 650 thousand years.

We *should* be entering a cooling cycle now. This should correlate with a decrease in CO2. It isn't. See how the chart shows the normal cycle being followed for the past 400k years, and where we are now it is supposed to be going down... but isn't?
That is not to say that global warming will kill us all. Yes, it is likely to cause lots of nasty things for various people, but there'll be plenty of others living better off to turn them away at the border.

Which is ok as long as your a turner away, not a turnee away. And even the turnees away have a decent chance of survival.

octafish said:
Really? Effluent? Come on that is too much. I was drinking when I read your post and now I have to clean my keyboard. Funniest thing I've read in ages and you probably didn't even mean it.
Ah...takes me back to when Kath and Kim was funny.
 

emeraldrafael

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BrownGaijin said:
It's still going to be a while before we see improvement in the economy
We're already seeing improvement. GDP is going up. I know, thats not the only thing and all that jazz, but its going up, which is a good thing. It goes down in recession and depression, so as long as it goes up it means your country is doing SOMETHING and getting itself out of whatever funk its in. Unless of course its sandwiched between years of negative GDP growth. Then that means the year was either a fluke or your country needs to get it together.

EDIT:
CaptQuakers said:
China for one. They have alot invested in us and if they cant collect that debt they'll be PISSED. People like to say that China doesnt need the US or it would do well without it and is gonna over take it (which may be true) but China and US are possibly the two most bonded countries in recent history.

Its like the middle east and other oil giving countries. They like to say that the world needs them more then they need the world, but if everyone starting buying things that didnt need gas they'd change their tune real quick.
 

manaman

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Sep 2, 2007
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Yeah... The third largest country population wise, with the largest economy, that has endured worse in the past is suddenly going to collapse overnight. Right.

Sarcasm aside, the short answer is no. Things where actually picking back up pretty quickly there for a while. Faster even the the SY was recovering. Things have stalled out a bit, but they will pick back up again, they always do. Its not going to be an economic downturn that does in the US. Like most nations power will wane someone else will take over the top dog spot, and people will continue to live their lives.
 

Carlston

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Apr 8, 2008
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We'll be fine, but I have to admit it's time to bring the jobs back.

Seems India or Chinese workers don't get a pay check then buy American goods, or rent or utilities...

So between that and Illegals, they sabotaged the economy in the excuse that the corps save money...

They "save" money yet no one in America has a job to buy a product...
 

Zechnophobe

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Feb 4, 2010
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octafish said:
Ossian said:
snip
What do you think? Are we going to survive or should I start speaking Indian/Chinese?
Don't bother learning Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi or the rest, India's second language is English, as for Mandarin, it really can't hurt but I wouldn't bother with Cantonese or any of the other languages.
Zechnophobe said:
I have a completely steady job and make good money. I've rather become MORE effluent in the past few years. So honestly, I don't even know what the problem is? What kind of jobs are you trying for that are so hard to get?
Really? Effluent? Come on that is too much. I was drinking when I read your post and now I have to clean my keyboard. Funniest thing I've read in ages and you probably didn't even mean it.
It was a mistake on my part, I think I will leave it so as to beer-soak additional keyboards for others with good vocabulary.
 

FoAmY99

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Dec 8, 2009
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Right now our national debt is the monkey on America's back. And its getting bigger. Its not just Obama's and the Democrat controlled congress of 06' to '10 fault, its Every government this country has had since FDR enacted the New Deal. The actions of all those governments over the last 70 years has put the idea in the minds of us Americans that we can live however we want, and do whatever we want cause a lot of us think government will provide for us. Problem is, government isn't supposed to provide for the people. the Federal Government is obligated to do only what the Constitution says it can do. Unfortunately, because most politicians care more about what actions will get them re-elected than what is actually good for the nation, the federal government has essentially ignored the Constitution or twisted it's words to go in their favor.

Wall Street played a very significant part in this whole economic nightmare, but it was government who really made it happen and worse when they had Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac back mortgages that we're obviously doomed from the start (allowing other lenders to just go nuts with loaning money to people who shouldn't have gotten any) and then spending ridiculous sums of taxpayer money bailing out the companies who should have seen this coming but let their greed get in the way.

Unless the government realizes that the vast majority of Americans are mad as hell and want the government to change how it does things, not only are they going to pay the price, but so are we the people and the rest of the world
 

manaman

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CaptQuakers said:
The main problem the US has is the majority of super powers hate you. So If you were to go belly up who would bail you out ? (Not trying to be a dick)

For a country like the US to go under is highly unlikely however due to the fact that you guys have put a finger in most peoples pie and when you go shits up you can cash that finger in ( World lending). All this depends on the countries called on actually having the money though.
The US is the only true super power. The economy is on par with the entire economy of the EU, largest military force, and not by far, the US military is larger then the EU's, and the US has the third largest population in the world. Third largest country lad mass wise as well. China's economy the second largest of any single country is less the half as large as the US economy.
 

Shadow-Phoenix

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Mar 22, 2010
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Ossian said:
Because I'm getting worried. I can't find a job anywhere, I'm trying my best. Gas prices are going so insanely high my parents are having a hard time getting to work in the morning, and I know there are family way worse off than mine. I heard prices are going to be $5.00 later this year.

How much longer can this last? I want to finish college and get a career but I fear there won't even be a job market when I get out. I have this overwhelming sense of doom crushing down on me. (Mind you I do live with a dad that is the biggest prophet of doom you've ever seen.)
I know history is full of depressions, but the world is a much different place, population growth no longer bolsters an economy like it did back in the day.
What do you think? Are we going to survive or should I start speaking Indian/Chinese?
Don't worry pretty much sums things up for me since i got out of college a about 2 1/2 yrs ago and i'm still looking for a career coming from me who lives on a small island which really isn't going to well for myself.
 

Mr.Mattress

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Jul 17, 2009
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Nah, I think America will be fine. Sure, there is minor political unrest, and sure, we have a humongous debt. But this can be fixed with a Politician that does the right thing over the thing that is not just a part of their political party.

America has suffered worse then this, we will survive.
 

e2density

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Dec 25, 2009
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silver wolf009 said:
but it is very possible and likely right now that we are going to be surpassed as the worlds number one superpower by China or India
Despite India having a very very large population, they also have a very very large AIDS epidemic and a HIGH HIGH poverty rate...I'd just say China on this one.
 

GodofCider

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Nov 16, 2010
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Ossian said:
silver wolf009 said:
Trust me, I know the feeling. >_< I try to remain hopeful, though it's hard when I've been out of work, despite my best efforts to find even the lowliest of jobs in the area, for so long; postponing my college education in the meantime. How troublesome.

Anyways, no, the US isn't going to collapse; what would that even mean? The government implodes and everything goes south? Not going to happen.

Nieroshai said:
What the?
 

Toriver

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Jan 25, 2010
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Sonic Doctor said:
Ossian said:
I feel you. I'm in the same boat, except that I'm at the already out of college point with no place that will hire me.

I would ask you, how many jobs have you held?

The reason I ask is that with the way the employers are these days, you are only going to get a job for two reasons:

1.) You have already been in the work force for a good bit, 5 years minimum, 3 years if you are lucky. They value people that have experience, doesn't matter if the person they are hiring is dumber than a box of rocks and hasn't been to college, they will hire that person because they have a work history.

2.) You could be fresh out of high school with no work history, but still get hired if you have connections within a company. (I've seen that shit way too many times.)

Now I've only had one job at a grocery store for two different summers. The reason I can't get hired is because of that.

I did graduate from college with a B.S., but it doesn't matter because employers look at education last. If you don't have the experience in the front, you aren't going to get hired. Even if the experience they are looking for is experience that you got in college, it won't matter. I guarantee that what you will encounter is that 9 out of 10 employers are going spit on your college record and tell you it is worth crap. The other one in that list will push your college aside and say, "Well to us, your 4 years of college counts as 2 years of experience, but we are looking for 3 years of experience, so sorry we can't hire you.

The problem I'm running into is that I'm even having trouble getting in simple retail or other not education required jobs because I do have an education. They get intimidated that I can actually think an point out problems in there systems. They want somebody that is brain-dead stupid that won't ask questions.

One pointer I will give you, if you get called in for some retail job interview, let's say stocking shelves at Wal-Mart. Don't come dressed in your best, go in with whatever dirty mess you might have on the floor. True story, I came into Wal-Mart interview dressed nice. I have some experience stocking shelves. Next to me was some teenager with jeans that had holes in it, a hole in his shirt and stains all over. I asked the kid if he had ever had a job, he said no. Not long after the interview, I found out they hired the kid over me. I had the experience and looked proper. But that was the problem, at places like Wal-Mart, they want people that are uneducated, people that they can quickly initiate and keep under their fingers.

Just keep looking, I always say, "I'm bound to find someone that actually has a brain and will hire me." Seriously, the hiring system that employers have these days isn't a real hiring system. Just remember college will mean nothing if you don't have years of experience. Knowledge and experience from college =/= Experience in the real messed up world. If you see an internship in something you are wanting to do, do your best get it. But with how hard it is to get internships these days, you are most likely going to have to bribe, cheat, and kill to get it, and practically know the internship exists before the people that are selecting for it know that it exists.
Absolutely all of this is true for me as well, except for two things:
1) I have a B.A. instead of a B.S., which means I am probably even worse off.
2) I would say employers do value education, but nowadays, a Bachelor's is just not enough anymore. If you have a Bachelor's degree, you are going to be the worst off of anyone in today's job market. NOTHING out there today is asking for someone with a bachelor's degree. It's either the jobs that don't require higher education (your manual labor/retail jobs) or they want at least a Master's degree. And as you said, if you apply for either of those with a Bachelor's, you aren't going to get jack without experience. I am in the exact same position right now, but I just don't have the money to be able to go back home and go into grad school.

So I am in the same whirlpool as the OP:

Ossian said:
Can't get a job without school > can't go to school without a job > can't get a job without a car > can't get a car without a job.

And due to having to pay off my student loans from my first degree, a part time job won't be enough to support me. I am so screwed...
 

Arizona Kyle

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Aug 25, 2010
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Nieroshai said:
Arizona Kyle said:
lacktheknack said:
BreakfastMan said:
If America collapses, it is taking the whole world with it, and I do not think that anyone wants that. So, yes, I think we are going to survive, at least for a while longer.
Actually, everyone will just turn to the EU and China. No one country is so important that it takes the entire world with it when it commits suicide.
Well america could take the world with it.... but i mean we would really have to try to f**k up the world before we go under and i do mean really try
Did I not just get done telling you a LOT of "evidence" on Global Warming was falsified for political gain? And no, we've had a LOT higher carbon than this, and orbital charts prove nothing because they show now without showing the then. The famous "hockey stick" graph that shows the exponential rise in carbon? Falsified by the University of East Anglia. I could go on, but I don't reallly NEED to argue longer than two replies with someone on the internet. But seriously, we spend way too much money hunting down things people in charge say exist and when we don't find it they say we weren't looking hard enough. I don't know about Europe, but the US just had a REALLY cold winter, the coldest in a lonng time. Also, do you know what we've been warming up FROM, and from WHEN? Look up the little ice age. Literally the entire population of Loondon could EASILY have stood on the ice of the Thames river, and even threw festivals on it. We have been warming up from a VERY recent FREEZE-OVER, THAT is why it's hotter than it used to be. Also, bye internet person.
ok to be fair didnt read all the pages

also was not talking about global warming was kinda talking in general because global warming is a myth and its stupid to think other wise

no i was refering to all the other things that america could do like start a war between two countries by puppetting one and then just leaving or something like that and that is just for starters folks and its not just america its any country that could do it but like i said we could do it but we gots to try really really hard to just be total dicks to everyone and there mum

(also to whoever was talking about the global warming thing that i just had the quote on sorry for the mix up wasnt trying to get the rage going just wasnt specific enough XD but dude calm down my friend)

and on that i think we could create global warming if we wanted to lol im sure someone has a giant lazer that they are just wanting to use to put a hole in the ozone doomsday style and all ha ha ha but i dont think that it would be global warming i think they would call

oh s**t -people get sucked through the hole in the sky- :D
 

Nova Helix

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Mar 17, 2010
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Unemployment is only at about 8% and gas prices are WAY lower than the rest of the world. It's not actually that bad, Retail/fast food/Grocery store jobs just don't require any training so anyone can get them. If it's easy to do then it will be harder to get when there is a surplus of workers.

Look at figures from the great depression and get some perspective. Things are on the up turn and never got to the real 'Oh Shit' levels if you start getting ration tickets for gas or tent cities start popping up then worry.


Toriver said:
2) I would say employers do value education, but nowadays, a Bachelor's is just not enough anymore. If you have a Bachelor's degree, you are going to be the worst off of anyone in today's job market. NOTHING out there today is asking for someone with a bachelor's degree. It's either the jobs that don't require higher education (your manual labor/retail jobs) or they want at least a Master's degree. And as you said, if you apply for either of those with a Bachelor's, you aren't going to get jack without experience. I am in the exact same position right now, but I just don't have the money to be able to go back home and go into grad school.
What are you talking about? 97% of people graduating from my school have a job lined up at graduation (at least in my department, others are lower). From talking to professors and grad-students the hire rate actually goes down with a masters degree too.
 

Khada

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Jan 8, 2009
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Short answer, yes. It's built into the system. It's the nature of a federal bank / fractional reserve system.

Watch this to learn more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg

Ps. Anyone who tells you that it's ok because GDP is going up likely has no idea what it really represents because it certainly isn't the well being of the people.
 

Rienimportant

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Jan 12, 2010
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I wouldn't worry too much about America collapsing. Sure we probably won't be like what we were right after WWII, top of the world and all that, but I doubt we have to worry about serious, "oh b---er all"
If nothing else, you just really can't find a job, get an entrepreneurial business degree (since you said you wanted to get a degree), get lots of internships, experience, and higher level ones pay, start a company, hire all your friends and use friends and family as a support base for customers. And don't start a lame/bad company though. Cause that would just end up putting you in a worse position.
(Note- the above statement doesn't mean I think starting a business is easy. I'm not That stupid haha)
 

FoAmY99

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Dec 8, 2009
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e2density said:
silver wolf009 said:
but it is very possible and likely right now that we are going to be surpassed as the worlds number one superpower by China or India
Despite India having a very very large population, they also have a very very large AIDS epidemic and a HIGH HIGH poverty rate...I'd just say China on this one.
The real problem with emerging markets like India and China include the issues you've just mentioned, but also the fact that (and this is mostly China) there isn't much usable land left in those areas. Most of western China is part of the Gobi Desert, which from what i've heard is encroaching on the livable land. Eventually the Chinese are going to have to come to terms that there will be more people than available land eventually, one child policy be damned. India will be forced to raze much of the jungles and forests there in order to create living space for their people, and they have much less total land than China so that would be a temporary solution anyway.

What I think will happen over the next few decades is there will be food wars in those nations which will likely kill millions. Whats worse is that these wars will eventually expand into resource wars. For an example, think of the Drell from Mass Effect 2. Thane says that the Drell had exhausted most of their homeworld's natural resources and had yet to develop even nuclear fusion. They eventually began slaughtering each other in order to get what little resources remained on the planet. Now that happening here is unlikely to happen soon, but I think considering our nature as human beings its entirely possible