My children's future

[makattak]

The national debt just passed $15 trillion.

Above is a graphical representation of just how much money that is. (Those are packs of $100 bills, stacked on pallets to total $15 trillion.)



I weep for my country and I will make sure my children don't suffer for the fools that have caused this.

(For the source of the graphic: http://minx.cc/?post=323802)

[Nick1911]

I weep for my country and I will make sure my children don't suffer for the fools that have caused this.

How do you intend to do that?

[S. Williamson]

How do you intend to do that?

A valid question. 

[makattak]

How do you intend to do that?

First and foremost, by voting and fighting to avoid the collapse precipitated by the massive debt burden.

Failing that, as much as I love my country, I am not afraid to leave it if the things that make the United States what it is are stripped away.

As it currently stands, the United States is still the freest country in the world. Should this massive debt crush us, I will seek out a suitable alternative to provide a better future for my children, just as my ancestors who came to this country did.

[wmenorr67]

First and foremost, by voting and fighting to avoid the collapse precipitated by the massive debt burden.

Failing that, as much as I love my country, I am not afraid to leave it if the things that make the United States what it is are stripped away.

As it currently stands, the United States is still the freest country in the world. Should this massive debt crush us, I will seek out a suitable alternative to provide a better future for my children, just as my ancestors who came to this country did.

Any ideas where you might go.  Cause if the US fails a lot of place are going to be a lot worse off.

[makattak]

Any ideas where you might go.  Cause if the US fails a lot of place are going to be a lot worse off.

If the US fails, the whole world will be worse off as we are currently the most stabilizing influence in the world.

I have a few ideas: New Zealand, Chile, Canada. (New Zealand is one I like, but the other two have the advantage of being much closer and not requiring crossing the largest ocean on Earth.)

This is not a plan, though. This is an acceptance of what may need to be done.

(Geez, I'm sounding like longeyes.)

[Tallpine]

First and foremost, by voting and fighting to avoid the collapse precipitated by the massive debt burden.

I'm thinking the sooner the collapse, the better.

The dissolution of the USSA would allow the states to start over - probably regional confederations.

Might suck to be in New Yorkajerseychusetts 

[AZRedhawk44]

Might suck to be in New Yorkajerseychusetts 

Gee, ya think?

It'd suck for New Yorkajerseychussetts, too, because they couldn't mooch off the natural resources and labor pool of the rest of the country like they do now.  All those regional confederations would be much wealthier, and maybe New York could return to being a regional sea port and fishmonger warehouse.

Which is exactly why any break-up into regional confederations will result in a Civil War that will cost millions of lives.

[Perd Hapley]

What is that building in front?

[makattak]

What is that building in front?

I was wondering that myself.

[kgbsquirrel]

Average sized family dwelling?

[MicroBalrog]

Question:

Half the debt they're talking about is held by other FedGov agencies. Would it be possible for these agencies to "forgive" the debt held?

[De Selby]

Why are countries that are basically socialist welfare states your target destinations???

[Tallpine]

What is that building in front?

Fort Knox 

[MillCreek]

I wonder if the building and the semi-truck are just there to provide a sense of scale.

[Tallpine]

any break-up into regional confederations will result in a Civil War that will cost millions of lives

I think Montana has a few more guns than New Yorkistan 

Half the debt they're talking about is held by other FedGov agencies. Would it be possible for these agencies to "forgive" the debt held?

Crazy, isn't it? 

The feral government is creating "money" out of thin air and loaning it to itself 

[drewtam]

Question:

Half the debt they're talking about is held by other FedGov agencies. Would it be possible for these agencies to "forgive" the debt held?

Yes. On this board we call it entitlement reform. My unsupported opinion is that this is why the US financial stability (cheap bonds) continues despite 100% GDP debt at the federal level and another 100-200% at the state and local level.

Eventually one of the following will happen:
1. These under funded pensions & entitlements will default
2. The treasury/bonds will default
3. The debt will be inflated away (play games with the cost of living increases)
4. The laws will change to remove the burden
5. Some combination of all the above

I don't think raising taxes is an option both literally and politically.
Literally due to diminishing economic activity from an already over burdened nation.
Politically due to fierce resistance to any more tax increase "compromise". People are wise to the game of promising a balance budget on the back of a tax increase, and then next year spending all the tax increase with no balance budget. Politicians are addicted to playing this game, and no tax increase will ever be used to balance a budget.

[makattak]

Why are countries that are basically socialist welfare states your target destinations???

Because they speak English and, should the US collapse may be better than where we end up.

As I said before, this is not a preferred option, but choosing the best of bad options. (Should my wife and I pick up other languages, our options would open up more. My wife already speaks Japanese, for example.)

[MillCreek]

^^^ If a massive economic collapse in the US occurs, such that emigration is a preferred approach, I wonder how many countries will be willing to accept US emigrants.  My thought is that if the US collapses, much of the rest of the world will go with it, and how open will the borders be?

[De Selby]

Because they speak English and, should the US collapse may be better than where we end up.

As I said before, this is not a preferred option, but choosing the best of bad options. (Should my wife and I pick up other languages, our options would open up more. My wife already speaks Japanese, for example.)

Why aren't they near collapse too, if socialism and entitlement spending are the cause of the us decline?

If I were in immigration and citizenship, I'd be most worried about émigrés coming here or NZ and promoting the same failed economic deregulation programs that destroyed America. 

[longeyes]

If the US fails, the whole world will be worse off as we are currently the most stabilizing influence in the world.

I have a few ideas: New Zealand, Chile, Canada. (New Zealand is one I like, but the other two have the advantage of being much closer and not requiring crossing the largest ocean on Earth.)

This is not a plan, though. This is an acceptance of what may need to be done.

(Geez, I'm sounding like longeyes.)

Ah.  At last.  Reality strikes. 

[sumpnz]

Why aren't they near collapse too, if socialism and entitlement spending are the cause of the us decline?

If I were in immigration and citizenship, I'd be most worried about émigrés coming here or NZ and promoting the same failed economic deregulation programs that destroyed America.  

What economic deregulation?

[TommyGunn]

Why aren't they near collapse too, if socialism and entitlement spending are the cause of the us decline?

If I were in immigration and citizenship, I'd be most worried about émigrés coming here or NZ and promoting the same failed economic deregulation programs that destroyed America. 

The Twilight Zone has been heard from.

[MicroBalrog]

Why aren't they near collapse too, if socialism and entitlement spending are the cause of the us decline?

If I were in immigration and citizenship, I'd be most worried about émigrés coming here or NZ and promoting the same failed economic deregulation programs that destroyed America. 

De Selby: Anti-Immigration Advocate.

[MicroBalrog]

P.S.: In the real world, New Zealand has more economic freedom than the United States. In terms of economics purely, it conforms more to Makattak's ideas than De Selby's:

http://www.heritage.org/index/

Note New Zealand being 4th on that list and growing freer, while America is 9th and growing more socialist.