The US empire is in irreversible decline says Richard Wolff.

[Warrigal]

I hate thinking about the economy but this is important. China has surpassed us economically while our production and influence are winding down. This is the opposite side of the rise we all lived through in the 20th century. We did pretty well almost regardless of our choices and our kids and grandkids will do much worse almost in spite of how good the choices may be that they make. Sad. But that is the reality. Now what matters is how we manage that decline. If we do nothing corporations and the ultra wealthy will continue to concentrate our nation wealth into just their own pockets, starving out your average worker.

Caution: there is discussion of our last presidential election but I won't and we shouldn't discuss it. But we should all open our eyes to what is going on.

Thank you, @MarkD. I have now taken the time to listen to Richard Wolffe's talk and I, an economic illiterate, was able to follow his arguments, and more importantly, I could understand them.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt, eh?

 

[Lethe200]

The 50’s were great for MEN. They were not great for women and children.

Or for people of color....like my mother and father, for example.

 

[againstthegrain]

Surprisingly tolerable at a playback speed of 2x.

 

[MarkD]

Thank you, @MarkD. I have now taken the time to listen to Richard Wolffe's talk and I, an economic illiterate, was able to follow his arguments, and more importantly, I could understand them.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt, eh?

Apparently not. It is a bitter pill for the economically illiterate but I appreciated being able to follow all his points too.

 

[seadoug]

I hate thinking about the economy but this is important. China has surpassed us economically while our production and influence are winding down. This is the opposite side of the rise we all lived through in the 20th century. We did pretty well almost regardless of our choices and our kids and grandkids will do much worse almost in spite of how good the choices may be that they make. Sad. But that is the reality. Now what matters is how we manage that decline. If we do nothing corporations and the ultra wealthy will continue to concentrate our nation wealth into just their own pockets, starving out your average worker.

Caution: there is discussion of our last presidential election but I won't and we shouldn't discuss it. But we should all open our eyes to what is going on.

Sorry, I haven't listened to the video but I do know that China has a big issue. It is the below, and one of the reasons they are unlikely to surpass us economically. Their immigrant population is only 1%. Imagine if the US were to rely on such a low percentage of immigrants. Our economy would have collapsed long ago.

China currently faces a demographic challenge with a rapidly aging population due to a declining birth rate, coupled with a very low immigration rate, meaning there are significantly fewer young people and very few foreign-born residents in the country compared to its overall population size.

 

[Trade]

I think we probably peaked in 1968 when we put people on the moon. We've been on a downhill slide since then.

 

[papa tiger]

MSN

Tidal Bore in China but also notice the Air Pollution along with weather. At most a mile away from the Camera you can't tell much about the buildings in the picture.

Most likely our biggest worries are Weather too. Hurricanes, Tornados and forest / Brush fires seem our most pressing problems.
The rest is all about opportunities wasted. Drugs mostly causing those family problems.

 

[papa tiger]

Seems like a bizarre segue from the topic at hand.

Is the topic about the Future of the USA, arent social issues the most important thing?

 

[mrstime]

Well, we are definitely behind in education, way behind.

And medical care.

 

[dilettante]

Well, we are definitely behind in education, way behind.

That was touched on here: Modern Feminism Ignores Working-Class

 

[HermitHogan]

Part of what I got from Richard Wolff's talk (that I finally got around to listening to) was that we need more New Deal type programs. That may be true. The housing crisis could be solved if we had a massive government effort to build affordable homes. We could also have a massive effort to construct a national high speed rail system similar to the way China built theirs. Those two things could improve our country enormously. We just don't have the will — partially because Wall Street would shoot it down before it even got off the ground. It would never even be brought up for a vote if any member of Congress had the courage to suggest it.

 

[papa tiger]

Guys we landed on the Moon over 60 years ago and have not gone back. You would think every country in the world would of chipped in and we would have a base there. Why, to prep for the solar systems Human expansion and exploration. Why not, too much greedy crapola on the earth. 99.9% total greed. It's the same thing all over the unknown space of all off space. Nobody is willing to accept the cost of stupidity.

 

[papa tiger]

Part of what I got from Richard Wolff's talk (that I finally got around to listening to) was that we need more New Deal type programs. That may be true. The housing crisis could be solved if we had a massive government effort to build affordable homes. We could also have a massive effort to construct a national high speed rail system similar to the way China built theirs. Those two things could improve our country enormously. We just don't have the will — partially because Wall Street would shoot it down before it even got off the ground. It would never even be brought up for a vote if any member of Congress had the courage to suggest it.

Housing problems are caused by investors. There are millions of acres of ground to build multifamily homes. Most of it not really good agriculture soil anyway.

What I see are illegal aliens wanting homes and government decisions. I keep neutral, good people are welcome is a thought. Thousands of acres of steep river side hills are dug and hauled away every year to keep the Garbage Mountains growing.

Give us 1000 years and we will change the weather just because we have built trash / Garbage mountains 1000's of feet tall. Sure each and every one will have NG vents burning most every day also.

 

[Warrigal]

Nobody is willing to accept the cost of stupidity.

PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE

 

[HermitHogan]

I think we probably peaked in 1968 when we put people on the moon. We've been on a downhill slide since then.

That was 1969. Since that time, we created the Internet, the PC and Mac, and microwave popcorn — the latter being one of the most important inventions of all time.