The Grand Decline

I believe the United States has seen better days. We are amidst the Grand Decline. This isn't akin to the Great Recession which is a worldwide phenomenon. The Grand Decline is specific to the United States.

It begins with apathy and selfish indolent behavior. It ends with the United States a mere player on the world stage along with China, Russia, European Union, and other emerging markets.

How did this happen? Well, we bought a lot of crap without the means to pay for it. This is everyone mind you from consumers, to business, and of course, the government as well. The wonderful consumer culture has left everyone leveraged to the hilt, and guess what, the bill has come due.

You can't forestall the inevitable once the game has changed, and change it has. There will be no rising real estate values or tech stock bubbles to bail us out this time.

I believe the most difficult aspect for this transformation will be psychological. What will it mean for the average US citizen when we aren't number one anymore?