Here's a scenario for all of you to consider, let's say this happens in the next 2-4 years.. Before the events unfold, consider the following has happened or is happening: -America's economy, like every other nation's, is failing and a 1929 style depression is in sight. -America has spread it's military all over the world, and concentrated in Iraq after civil unrest by an emerging terrorist organization funded by Russia and China (whose interest is to get us to spread more of our military). -As oil prices rise, we strategically place our military in all countries that are high producers of it. Then the day comes, or the week or whatever period of time, that the following events unfold.. The looming depression finally reaches and the economy is at an all time low. Food prices soar, way beyond what most families can buy after unemployment goes higher than 1929 levels. Poverty and hunger shortly ensue. Other countries are competing for the resources we have been after, and take middle eastern countries by force, with a military slightly superior to our own. Our military, with a lack of funding, cannot maintain itself abroad and needs to come back. Shortly after, China demands instant payments of what we owe to them. Knowing that we cannot meet them and with energy prices on the rise, they see America has a worthy target, as we are the #1 wheat and ethanol producer. They begin strategic attacks on our military bases and instead of nuking or large scale warfare, begin taking our land by large numbers instead. Terrorist members who have previously been in the United States for a long period of time by simply crossing the border, begin large attacks on the population as an effort to divide what little forces have left. In the process the Chinese take over our ports, airports and eventually cities. You are the president, what do you do?
I think you will find this fiction reading more interesting than your scenario. http://www.amazon.com/Breath-Fire-D...=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205537314&sr=1-6
thanks for the link. there's obviously some things in my post that probably don't make sense to someone who knows more about economics than myself. people should arrive at the fact that there's little you can do at that point. preventative medicine.
Looks like someone left out the USA's 2nd largest and most modern nuclear aresonal out of thier senario.
I already saved America in one hypothetical thread. This time, I go on vacation and let the VP sort it out.
I can't help but wonder if all these doom and gloom threads stem from alex jones releasing a new "illuminati/bohemian grove" video? Some people just ooze pessimism, defeat, doom and gloom!
They can't do that; they would have to sell the securities in the open market at distressed prices. Milton Friedman already gave an answer to this scenario: it wouldn't happen.
We are playing pretend, so just take Nate's scenario at face value. If I were to go into survival at all cost mode...All attacking countries would be nuked, preferably simultaneously. If at all possible, we need to partner up with any country we can trust for assistance. They may be able to help with direct combat on our land or other military operations. Every citizen needs to be supplied with weapons as well. This would be a dire situation where all citizens would act as soldiers to protect themselves. We would need to get all the supplies from grocery stores and such to distribute them for free to citizens before the attackers get supplies. From the scenario you provide, it would be difficult to survive but not impossible.
I go online and order a audiobook course on how to speak Chinese. Send Dana Perino to Starbucks for some Mocha Lattes Because quite honestly, at this point, it's game over. In fact, if the Chinese wanted to tomorrow, they could bring us to our knees. And that's the plain truth. Soooooo.... Anyone want to attack Iran and keep partying like it's 1986?
What would China do with US ports and airports? USA is valuable only because it consumes almost anything. That is why, it is a huge source of revenue. If China would want to eliminate a potential military adversary, it would attempt to divide the nation from the inside, pitting resource-rich states against poorer states, so eventually the union would collapse due to economic strain. What would happen if USD $ becomes as worthless as Indonesian currency? Most probably the Fed would start printing Ameros instead of USD Greenbacks.
You would just give up and wait for the attackers to come and kill you and your family? If we destroyed their countries so no further troops could come, if we got assistance from other countries, and if every citizen was armed and fought back we would have a chance. We also have a physical advantage because Americans are bigger than chinese. I would fight until the end.
It's a takeover, not genocide. Under the conditions Nate describes, the battle has already been lost. There is no magic solution. It's not a fight we could win. Yeah, but if you follow foreign affairs, I don't think too many countries are going to bail out America if we ever get into trouble. We used up most of our foreign goodwill in Iraq. Now even countries like Britain are worried about being associated too closely with us, because their citizens are even less impressed than ours that they went to war under lies. Right now, the Chinese could destroy our economy. We owe them that much money. And without them financing us, our military and government might collapse. Things are already in bad shape. You are one tough lady. I'd fight in self-defense, but I'm not going to throw myself in front of a tank to make a point. You can accomplish a lot more by living than by dying. Reality, right now, our borders are totally porous. Any and every kind of bad guy could already be in this country, plotting our demise. We're totally bankrupt and dependent on our enemies to finance us and prop up our dollar. And our military is not in very good shape, if we have to fight any kind of serious war against another world power. We need real, effective change soon if we're going to have a future.
It kind of looks like we are going to get Obama. It would be a change. Probably not a real effective or positive change, but a change.
Sounds to me like your scenario actually encompasses your politics, which is the great irony. I could be wrong. For instance, you sound like someone who does not want our army spread so thin oversees. "Our military, with a lack of funding, cannot maintain itself abroad and needs to come back." But then you take a kind of fanciful, Orwellian turn, adding: "They [China] begin strategic attacks on our military bases...' What bases? I thought we went back home? Now if you're suggesting China hits our Mainland I suggest you remember that our local police forces have trouble going into some neighborhoods, then give this armed nation of ours a cause - invasion. I'd say bring it on at that point - I'll bet on us anyday in that scenario. On another point you sound as if you disagree with the foreign bankrolling of America: "Shortly after, China demands instant payments of what we owe to them. Knowing that we cannot meet them and with energy prices on the rise, they see America has a worthy target, as we are the #1 wheat and ethanol producer." But what would we actually do here if we could not honor our debt? Well, we'd do what China did to us - we'd welch. We'd do what France did to us in the 20th Century - we tell them to take a flying leap - you cannot take blood from a stone. You ask what I'd do if I was the president at that time but the whole thing sounds so far-fetched I guess I'd just go to Disney-Land
In order to welch, we would have to collapse everything. What we would more likely do, is sell off parts of the country and negotiate a settlement. Already Arabian Sovereign Wealth Funds are cashing in before the dollar falls much lower. They are buying up interests in the US, and I imagine the Chinese would do the same. Economic invasion and victory, without firing a shot.
Place higher salaries in government agricultural and manufacturing industries, the economy is at its all time low, the highest paying job will get the most interest from the public, why not put the highest paying job in an industry which will help strengthen the economy and make sure first and foremost food is reachable to the Americans? Without food, will be misery, and that means no work, so put the men in the fields first and foremost. Whence keeping the food prices reachable by the normal average, equalize the economy, increase big timer’s taxes, and decrease the poor man’s taxes, this will encourage work, you can easily do that by setting a mark as it now does. Once the economy equalizes, everyone will have the intent, to grow their personal financial situations, thus boosting the overall economy. Nobody would be lazy, because personal finances would be down for everyone, as if the economic paralyzing of the poor man haven’t already crippled the rich man’s business. Everybody would have to work irregardless, because of everyone would have to survive. Now the economy is stabilized. Focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. I cannot say it more clearly, once the economy stabilizes, the only way is to focus on jobs to increase the economy. However you’re going to do that, that’s what's needed, and that’s the only thing that would do to once again stabilized the crippled economy. There are different and various methodologies and ways you can do this, the president must be creative. I’m not an American, inputting my input for the fun of it and my fetish for legal discussions and debate. There would have to be a creative president and one willing for the actual change of the economy, cause with politics, when they say it isn’t happening, truth then, it isn’t! There’s more I would suggest of a scenario, but I’m not committed right now (fully). I’ve watched on an American newscast that economists (professionals) have deemed America already in recession. I’d agree with China and be reasonable, they’re economy is overtaking, at least use them until you get back on your feet. Don’t be neglectful, or ignorant, if you’re in need of help, take it! Take it, be the underdog, and overtake later.
Hubris is the problem for many. Most people are probably oblivious to what is going on with the economy. Ron Paul had a decent plan, one that would have operated silently and progressively. But we're probably going to get more intervention, and more pain. My biggest worry is that it slips into a depression, as they inflate and debase to the point of no return... No matter what, this economic event is going to change a lot of things.