The Road To Ruins

I've relayed commentator articles discussing America's apparent/actual decline, especially from Mark Steyn.  Primarily because I love Mark's tongue-in-cheek style and in these "interesting times," I can use a laugh or three.

However, no matter how much I laugh, I often ask:  How long can things go on like this?

According to VDH, we could coast on fumes for years to come, just like the Roman Empire did.

But, since nature abhors a vacuum, doesn't this mean China will level-up to the world's #1 position?

Not necessarily.

There are other players on the world stage, so our leaders will have to contend with rise of the rest. 

Meanwhile, with the Obama's scandalfest still simmering, the natives here at home are restless.

Does this mean, we're in a pre-revolutionalry state?

Maybe.

Here's the discussion that followed between two friends in the wake of Roger Simon's article:

The revolution won't be people heading to the streets with guns. The revolution happens when the people who have been following the rules simply quit obeying the federal government. The revolution will be millions of independent contractors working for cash or barter and not reporting income. Just like the 55 mph speed limit was the object of ridicule before it was repealed, the whole system of big stupid government comes crashing down if enough people ignore it and simply quit paying.

I could easily see ObamaCare causing the return of cash payment for medical services. What happens if doctors find cash business is profitable while government managed 3rd party payer medicine is not? What if many thousands of small businesses simply "Go Mexican" and drop out of the regulated economy?
If everyone in the federal government was suddenly cut off from the rest of the country, would life end? No. Most of the day-to-day useful things done by government happen at the local level. It has to be one of the biggest fears of the ruling class that a majority of the people discover that they can live just fine without intervention from the national government.

(Emphasis added by e-mailer to comment posted below the main article).

OTOH, I think all the talk of a revolution in the traditional sense is premature. While there might well be a breakdown of the current order, it would be more a transition than a violent uprising—as noted in the comment.

At the same time, the Federal government will accept what amounts to the re-establishment of the 10th Amendment (what choice will they have)? And perhaps we’ll see some changes—repeal of the 17th would be a good start.
Obamacare will collapse as an unenforceable mess. Doctors that want to stay in business will re-arrange their payment schemes to suit the new reality. There will also be more resorting to the “family doctor” for run of the mill ailments, so the days of getting an MRI for everything will be gone for good.
OTOH, we are in nowhere near the state of political distress we were in the 1850s. There are no duels at Bladensburg between Congressmen and politics is, for now, non-violent as a matter of course (a major difference from the 1850s).

Agreed, hence my inclusion of the comment. Most Americans are too dulled in their senses by their bread and circuses lifestyles to actually become violent, nor is it typical for Americans in general to resort to violence unless pushed to it (fringe freaks aside, of course). I do see somewhat grimmer times coming down the pike, but the changes will be more subtle than violent. In fact, I recall a Steyn comment that living in a decaying society can actually be very comfortable for those who are already in a favorable position financially -- very true, and I expect to live to a comfortable old age. However, we are already witnessing a widening between the haves and have nots that is unhealthy. Stupid college kids are graduating with monstrous debt and no propsects, not to mention no common sense or the benefits of a useful education. A permanent underclass may be forming, mitigated only by living in mom and dad's basement and living off their resources. Those who are doing well tend to continue to do well.

I think Obamacare implementation will be the first chance to shock some of these lumpenproletariat awake. When people, especially youngins with poor prospects start finding out they need to buy health insurance even if they are completely healthy, and get fined thousands for not doing so, they might start to realize that all is not well in their worlds.
Interesting times, to be sure.

Yeah, $5K worth of insurance they don’t want/can’t afford.  And you are 100% dead on re: education. Never was a less informed bunch ever loosed upon the world, while believing they are smarter than all who have gone before.

Because they "know" about, you know, oppression and stuff.  I became totally disillusioned teaching grad students that could not write, could not speak well, were clueless about everything, had no intellectual curiosity, and were intellectually lazy.

And yet now they are being given commissions in the armed forces, hired as analysts, etc. etc.  No wonder there’s some really bozo stuff coming out of policy these days.
Bozo policies indeed.