We’ve been heading towards a time that a lot of leaders knew would require change and reform but didn’t. This has made the required reform to be more drastic, creating greater resistance.
It seems to be so bad that a lot of elites are just betting on collapse without understanding what they’ll lose.
Kinda the former. We are witnessing the slow collapse of the US global empire (along with its European wing), and like other instances of hegemonic empires collapsing it’s not going to be pretty (think collapse of the Roman Empire) but it’s ultimately a system collapsing rather than society collapsing.
Stupid question, I don’t feel like Europe is collapsing in any way. Can you tell me why would you say that?
Yeah as concerning as the present historical moment is to live through, i’m really excited about the light it can shine on the past - what imperial transitions look like.
I’d like to argue that this isn’t a slow collapse, but a remarkably rapid one. The Roman Empire, for example, took almost 300 years from the Antonine Plague that halted it’s growth before the last western emperor was deposed, or almost 500 years if counting from Julius Ceasar and the eruption at Pompei.
The USA, by contrast, entered its decline a mere 25 years ago when it expended vast resources attempting to conquer the Graveyard of Empires, and only just last year ceded its position as global hegemon to China. At this rate, the American Empire might only last another generation or two.
The Epstein class is very emboldened, now.
Yes. And they want their island back.
Sure, they probably have a new one. But they’re angry at losing the first one.
What‽
I can’t tell if this is a stupid question. It isn’t even a coherent sentence.
What are you asking?How much of what? Which ruling class?
Ex: healthcare and childcare is unaffordable and collapsing everywhere(though obviously not to the level of the US) because patriarchy refuses to accept that it’s something that once employed half of the population to do and is obviously going to be extremely expensive to maintain so they just expect free social labor to fill the gaps. This is true even in China. But the “ruling class” when we talk about patriarchy is hard to draw lines on.
Its not collapsing thats mostly the internet being a void people scream into. There is some global crises at the moment but they’ll pass. Day to day most people are getting up going to work, spending time with their families and living life.
Suppose you had a co-worker. You both make the same salary, say $75,000/year takehome.
You and your coworker are chatting, and you mention that you are buying a house.
Your co-worker says “I wish I could do that. I have too much credit card debt.”
“How much debt do you have?” you ask.
“$600,000,” he replies.
“Oh, my,” you reply. “Well, how did you spend that much? Who loaned you so much money? What about your budget?”
“Yeah, I should budget more wisely. I still have to borrow enough to cover my bills, about $110,000 per year. But even if I stopped overspending today, most of my debt is just interest accrual. I might as well keep spending until someone stops me, right?”
And that’s the U.S. in a nutshell. Yes, we can get by for another day or another month or another year - until we can’t. And then it all comes crashing down with a quickness.
Look at the graph here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_public_debt
Notice that the last time our debt ratio got this high, it was WWII. After the war, the financial repercussions were addressed, the money was paid back and we got on with our lives. When budget shortfalls started to spike again in the 90s, Democrats and Republicans worked together and brought it back down.
So, if the debt is to be reduced, we either need to work together or we need a world war. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
The world isnt America.
And also why are you using an example of 600k cc debt? 6k debt cc is more realistic and would be easily payable by someone on 75k. Dont get me wrong, the american debt situation is not good but society still moves along while people fall through the cracks.
Crises don’t pass, they are either resolved or they get worse. Your passivity is not a measure of the labor of those who have resolved previous crises. You are free to stick your head back in the sand, but do not blame us when we can no longer protect you.
Thinking society is collapsing isnt solving problems. Most of these problems aren’t the average persons to solve
We have the liberties we have because average people in the past knew otherwise. Union workers, revolutionaries, mass political movements, terrorists, soldiers, and civil servants. If the system steers society towards collapse, we all have to change the system by the least violent means available, which is sometimes a violent civil war.
Yes but its not steering towards collapse.
Most of these problems aren’t the average persons to solve
Then you’ve totally missed the point of freedom and democracy.
Collectively, our leaders are very much “average” people. Some are super smart, others are ignorant and stupid. Some are charismatic leaders, others are petty, vindictive administrators. Some are well-educated, some are Majorie Taylor Greene. It takes a collective effort to solve problems, though. A nuclear scientist can’t build a reactor without ditch diggers.
Society isn’t collapsing. Freedom and prosperity are collapsing.
I’m not saying not vote. I assumed the average person is voting for people to solve those problems. Then its those people who are focused on solving those problems. Average people focus on their own problems.
