Is the U.S. a failing state?

[teamnelson]

Some folks might not be aware of the concept of a failed or failing state, but they are the primary focus of our national security strategy, and have been for a couple decades. I'm finishing up some studies at the war college and I was struck by some similarities between the criterion used to identify a failing or failed state, and the headlines about the US.

Just using a very basic definition, I ask, is the U.S. a failing state?

Weak Government & Civil Institutions.
Globalization.
Autocratic leadership.
Ethnic Divisions.
Failing Economy.
Inability to secure borders, or control population movement.
Increased crime.

[mcwoodduck]

Weak Government & Civil Institutions.
When Cities and States are allowed to ignore federal laws, Maybe    California allowing Illegal immagration and selling POT are two examples.  When you have too many departments that have overlapping jurisdictions and opposing orders there are problems
Globalization. When Other countries laws are cited rather than the Constitution, Yes.  When the constitution is a living document that can be interperted to include things that are not there  then we have no basis of laws if the highest law in the land can be changed at a political whim.
Autocratic leadership. When the leadership exempts them selves from the laws everyone else has to follow- Yes
Ethnic Divisions. The Democrats love to pit one group agaisnt each other and the Hyphan American is a problem
Failing Economy. The silly rules and regulations as well as a tax code that promotes certain activities are turning us into a Supply economy rather than a free market
Inability to secure borders, or control population movement. Again when some laws are allowed to be ignored - no law has meaning.
Increased crime. Crime is subjective- Breaking laws is Crime, when laws are ignored is that an increase in crime or is it property and physical crime you are talking about?
I think you have failing States in the Country, you have a slowly failing Federal Government - and Insane leaders that promote more and more Socialism knowing that Socialism/ Communism has failed all over the world.  After all Einstien said doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is Insane

[DDZ]

I think the biggest is our failing educational system. The benefits from a well educated population are undeniable.

Another big one is the failure to protect innocent life.

Also the attack on religious liberties is failing this nation.
 The founders understood that respect for innocent life would dwindle if the influence of religion were reduced in the Nation. As George Washington warned. "Where is the security for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert".

No doubt in my mind that we are failing from what we once were.

[myronman3]

yes.

[torpedoman]

credit rating dropped from AAA by traders in bonds. default insurance on bonds increased like 40% dollar dropping daily now on a par with Canadian dollar. Looks like it is heading down the tubes to me ,QE2 will drop the dollar and the credit rating further. Invest in safe assets and out of the federal reserve note, The airborne defecation is on a collision course with a rapidly revolving obstruction.

[magooch]

If we continue on the economic track we are on, we most certainly will fail.  The failure is the fault of the voters.  We have come to a fork in the road; one lane might lead back to some sanity, the other most certainly leads to ruin.

[SHOOTALL]

Maybe , but there are controls in place to stop it if it is. The big question is if Americans can bite the bullet and froce the wheels in motion . What controls - Vote out politicans who don't do what most Americans want done, Find not guilty in court decisions no matter the instruction given, boycott companies that are not good for America and demand smaller govt. W/term limits.

[scotsman]

Is the U.S. a failed state? Such questions are certainly to be answered by people whose pay grade far excede mine. I do think that at the moment we are failing in several key areas. The state of the economy is very poor now but with time, leadership, and a little luck this too will pass. A bigger problem is the distribution of income. I fear we could become a country of the very wealthy and peasants. I believe it to be impossible for any society to be strong that does not make anything, the added value of taking raw materials and converting them to finished product can not be under estimated. We have allowed ourselves to fall into the trap of what I call the Wal Martization of everything.(I am as guilty as anyone). We must begin to build, innovate, and produce things. And as an earlier post said our education system is betraying our country and our young people. I find it hard to believe anyone can defend a system that only about 70% even complete. Those that do complete public education are often severely lacking in basic skills. I do not have the answers to these problems but it is up to us to find the solutions and leave the country in a better place than we now find ourselves. We should all demand better of ourselves, our government, and our children's future.

[Oldshooter]

 
Is the U.S. a failing state?
Yep!


No offense meant scotsman, but if we are going to depend on a "little luck" we'd be better off going to Vegas. The "leaders" (and i use the term loosely) are selling us out for a liitle more power! the worst kind of traitor.

[Dixie Dude]

According to the History Channel on the History of America.  At the time of the American Revolution, we had a higher standard of living than those back in England.  We also had more educated people than all of the European countries.  Thanks mostly to our chruches and originally established universities (Ivy League were mostly started by churches).  We educated our people from the Bible.  Most free men could read as well as the women.  We knew what was going on in the world.  We have truely been dumbed down.  Not enough emphasis on Early American history and what the Founding Fathers really believed and ment. 

[mcwoodduck]

I was in an easy Econ class in College, 100 or 200 level and the Professor was telling us about "Fiat" money.
And she and I got into an argument over the US dollar and if it was Fiat money.
And while the US Dollar meets the criteria of Fiat money it really is not just money becasue the government says it is.
It is money because people will accept it as a payment for goods and services.
While you can no longer go to the treasury and demand a dollars worth of Silver or Gold for your paper you can use it to purchase gold, silver, or other items and people are willing to take it.  Heck people are willing to take it all over the globe, in some cases over thier money.
While It is fiat moeny and is backed by nothing, people will accept it and that makes it real money.
Where I am headed with this little rant is that while we may fit the description of a failed or failing country we are only truly failed if we do not head off in another direction and reverse our failures.  Those corrections can not be done from the top down but must e done from the bottome up.  We need to take charge of local areas and fix them, then on to county, state and finally the morons at the federal level.
I am sure the fall of Rome was slow and there were a few times that it could have been turned around and things could have been different.
And western culture had the Dark ages, small kindoms, regional wars, and a break down in law where might was right.
I some times wonder if the pointy heads in their Ivory towers realize that.

[SHOOTALL]

Our money is backed by the peoples ablity to produce . Gold is only used because there is an almost finite amount .
 I agree with ya and point out if the enomic machine of a country is stopped by the workers even a harsh leadership will fall in line. We only need look to Poland for proof .

[Dixie Dude]

Numbers are out for September, inflation is up to about 4% now from about 2%.  Probably headed higher because China is no longer buying treasury bills.   Only three ways to pay off national dept, raise taxes (too high already for economic expansion), cut spending (doable, but congress & pres have to bite the bullet), print money (buys back the treasury bills with inflated money, thus causing inflation).  One other way is one that Reagan tried to do, was to sell off unused or unneeded government land for cash.  For instance, the Army or Navy owned a section of Waikiki beach in Hawaii.  It was used by officers during WWII.  No longer needed worth millions.  Government land with oil, coal, and mineral deposits that are not being used.  The Feds own half of all the land West of the Mississippi.  They could sell some of it for private use or development.  

[mcwoodduck]

Numbers are out for September, inflation is up to about 4% now from about 2%.  Probably headed higher because China is no longer buying treasury bills.   Only three ways to pay off national dept, raise taxes (too high already for economic expansion), cut spending (doable, but congress & pres have to bite the bullet), print money (buys back the treasury bills with inflated money, thus causing inflation).  One other way is one that Reagan tried to do, was to sell off unused or unneeded government land for cash.  For instance, the Army or Navy owned a section of Waikiki beach in Hawaii.  It was used by officers during WWII.  No longer needed worth millions.  Government land with oil, coal, and mineral deposits that are not being used.  The Feds own half of all the land West of the Mississippi.  They could sell some of it for private use or development.  

You also forgot the most important part of Reagan was the lowering of Taxes.  Top marginal rate was 72% when he took office and that killed growth.
If we freeze spending, Freeze hiring for three to five years/ allow promotions but no new hires.  and LOWER taxes by 25% across the board we can have more money pouring into the federal treasury.  Any and all surplus is used to pay down the debt.
Under Reagan that was the deal with Congress and the Democrats lead by that Drunken Tip O'neal went back on the deal and started spending like drunken sailors.  Sorry to all the drunken sailors I may have offended.  That excessive spending has continued to this day.
It took A congressional tax increase that was forced down GHW throat and his veto over ridden, and three tax hikes by Clintoon and one cut by GW to get our economy back to where it was in the early 70's of NYC.
Lower taxes increase Profits, higher profits incourage growth, groth raises the income and lowers un-employment.  Lower un employment creates consumer demand and more items are purchased, creating greater profits..... and the cycle continues.
The best way to explain it is as a government would you rather have 7% of a 3 trillion dollar economy or 30% of a 100 Billion dollar economy
7% of 3 trillion = 210 Billion in taxes give or take
30% of 100 billion = 30 billion give or take.
Lower taxes increase the GNP.

[Swampman]

Is the U.S. a failing state?

I believe it has already failed.....

[Junior1942]

...... Government land with oil, coal, and mineral deposits that are not being used.  The Feds own half of all the land West of the Mississippi.  They could sell some of it for private use or development.  

Just making sure everyone reads this fine Republican Party plank.  Sell Federal land, huh?  That's National Forests, National Parks, and BLM lands.  Can you read NO TRESSPASSING in Chinese and Russian?

[Dixie Dude]

Do you understand that HALF of all land west of the Mississippi is owned by the FEDS.  Yes a lot of it could be sold.  You used to be able to go stake a claim, live on it for 7 years and it was yours.  Not anymore.  Most of Alaska is owned by the FEDS.  They could sell it to Americans ONLY, and stipulate must be in American hands for so many years.  Probably 75-85% of Nevada is owned by the FED.  They own buildings and property all over the country, many not being used anymore.  We also need to audit the Federal Reserve.  How much money is out there?  How much gold do they have?  What banks have this money?  The Federal Government is way to big. 

[Junior1942]

All you guys out west who like to hunt, Dixie Dude has news for you.

[Range Rider]

Dixiedude why not sell every thing east of the Miss., River?  Most of its old run down rust belt with very high taxes and welfare cost.  The whole thing is run by Democrats and other organized crime.  That will make the take over by Chinese communist almost painless.

All kidding aside.  The government has and is selling the western lands to off shore interest.  Most of the major Nuclear claims mines are now in the hands of France,  Germany and Japan.  Some of the very large grazing units in the west are under control of other countries.  Even the area around Yellowstone Natl. Park is under control of the United Nations thru world land protection agreements during the Clinton years. This goes on on to no end.  We are are a nation in the Pawn Shop of the world and way behind on our payments.

RR

[Dixie Dude]

I never said they should sell it, as it is only an option, but if they did to sell it only to Americans and American interests.  However, this may be done anyways if things get any worse.  We can't keep spending on never ending social plans.  We had a 13% poverty rate in 1960, by 2000, we still had 13% poverty with 4 trillion spent on welfare and food stamps.  How did the poor get by in the 50's?  Well charities and churches collected money, clothes, and food for the poor.  The true poor were identified by the local communities, helped, and counceled. 

If we don't cut spending and pay down the national debt, you can bet government lands will be sold OR we are going to have hight inflation.  Septembers was already pegged at 0.4% for the month, times 12 months that is 4.8% inflation.  It's comming.  They will pay the debt with inflated dollars.  Dems have got to go. 

[Conan The Librarian]

Why light my joint and slap my 'fro, man! Crack a friggin' book and dig the foundations of philosophy, dude!

Man, like 2500 years ago the Ancient Greeks took pessimism and turned it into the formal basis of thought we have today, man!

Scan the ink,bro! Skeptics, agnostics, Pyrrho. No matter how good you think you are at piss in' and moaning' you're just an amateur compared to these heavyweights.

Man, like they were complaining about how the world isn't fit for their children to live for at least since we have written history, man!

Like man, they were way too pessimistic! They never predicted cool and important stuff like mentholated cigs  and cherry flavored condoms and 24 hour a day TV and chocolate ice cream, man.

[torpedoman]

Our money is backed by the peoples ablity to produce . Gold is only used because there is an almost finite amount .
 I agree with ya and point out if the enomic machine of a country is stopped by the workers even a harsh leadership will fall in line. We only need look to Poland for proof .

money backed by metal does not allow for inflation, only so much of the metal, so they can't run the presses unless they had the gold or silver. By the way everyone should be buying a bit of both now because no matter what happens to the paper money the metals will have good value.

[Oldshooter]

EXcuse me but FDR made it illegal to own gold during the depression and took it . obama will do the same if he thinks it will keep him in power. I'll keep my metal in the form of rifles and pistols and lead.  But maybe a fellow could save his Gold and silver and go down to the grocery store and  buy $12.99 worth of food with a 1400.00 bar of gold and get change. 

[BBF]

When **** hits the fan, your gold, silver etc won't buy you food or clothing. Store up on those and get as many handtools as you can get for what needs doing in your place.

[Junior1942]

I never said they should sell it, as it is only an option, but if they did to sell it only to Americans and American interests.  However, this may be done anyways if things get any worse.  We can't keep spending on never ending social plans.  We had a 13% poverty rate in 1960, by 2000, we still had 13% poverty with 4 trillion spent on welfare and food stamps.  How did the poor get by in the 50's?  Well charities and churches collected money, clothes, and food for the poor.  The true poor were identified by the local communities, helped, and counceled. 

If we don't cut spending and pay down the national debt, you can bet government lands will be sold OR we are going to have hight inflation.  Septembers was already pegged at 0.4% for the month, times 12 months that is 4.8% inflation.  It's comming.  They will pay the debt with inflated dollars.  Dems have got to go. 

Russians like the cold, so maybe we should sell them every US state with more than 12" of average annual snowfall.

Let us END individual welfare. While we're at it, let us (1) stop paying farmers not to farm; (2) get the government out of the milk, butter and corn and wheat business and end the system of taxpayers paying for milk and groceries in the form of subsidies to the farmers and in the form of cash at the grocery store; and (3) why, oh, why do trillion dollar oil companies get an off-the-top 15% tax break?

Some of you right wingers gag on gnats and swallow camels.  I suspect that the annual tax breaks to Exxon-Mobil alone are more than the annual cost of the entire USA individual welfare system.

The Republicans have either got to go or lose their myopic vision.

[Swampman]

Your choices are Republicans or Democrats.

Any other choice is no choice at all.

[Dixie Dude]

I agree that farmers shouldn't be paid not to grow stuff.  I agree with not giving out welfare money.  I also agree we don't need corporate welfare.  Tax breaks for the oil companies should be only if they invest in say algae oil production, or coal gasification production, or drilling in the US.  But again I say, China doesn't have corporate income tax.   Why should we.  It only contributes about 35% to the total tax income in the US.  The rest is from individual, tarriffs, and excise taxes.  We should only have a VAT tax on goods sold, not goods produced.  That way you can choose not to buy or to buy.  I did much better financially under REAGAN than any president in my adult lifetime.  Clinton sold us out as well as Carter.  Now Obama is finishing us off. 

[Junior1942]

....Now Obama is finishing us off. 

Nope, he's just desperately trying to rescue us from eight years of GWB.

[slim rem 7]

if we are gonna be rescued,i doubt it ll be by obama..
 some of you probably know,the only hope we have in my opinion..
 a good father dreads to punish his children..
 but if he is gonna show them ,he can be depended on..
 sometimes what he hates to do..is necessary.

[SHOOTALL]

Your choices are Republicans or Democrats.

Any other choice is no choice at all.

Only if people are closed minded !