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5 Things That Will Happen To You When America Goes Bankrupt
Townhall.com ^ | April 12, 2011 | John Hawkins

Posted on 04/12/2011 9:10:41 AM PDT by Kaslin

"Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

Does it seem too strong to call the way America deals with its debt "madness?" If not madness, then what? Denial? An addiction? However you phrase it, we're a country that's in deep trouble, but so many of us seem unable to deal with it.

Liberals in this country, for the most part, will admit that we're running up "unsustainable" deficits. Yet, these same liberals adamantly oppose any and all serious efforts to do anything about it. Once you move out from liberals to the general public, once again you'll find plenty of people who admit that this nation has a huge problem. Yet, when you leave generalities, get down to specifics, and start looking for programs to cut, then suddenly everyone gets nervous and says, "never mind." It's like the old saying, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die."

Sadly, this is a natural outgrowth of ladling out public funds to special interests. There is so much collective money that few people feel or appreciate it when even billions are saved. Yet, if we yank even a few million away from special interest groups like PBS, Planned Parenthood, or the unions, they squeal like pigs that are about to accidentally be put in the wolves’ pen at the zoo.

In the face of that, people have to realize that this country is on pace to go bankrupt -- and it could happen relatively soon if we don't start taking serious steps to control our spending. Mike Pence thinks we could just be ten to fifteen years away. Tom Coburn is less optimistic and thinks it could happen in as little as five years. If that happens, we're not a tiny country like Greece -- we're the biggest economy in the world. That means there's no cavalry coming to pay our bills for us because we ARE the cavalry.

What happens then? Well, we don't know for sure, but we can make some educated guesses about what COULD happen and how it will impact YOUR life.

1) Your life savings could be reduced to nothing almost overnight. Inflation is a fact of life. As Thomas Sowell has noted, "As of 1998, a $100 bill would not buy as much as a $20 bill would buy in the 1960's." That's under normal circumstances.

However, the thing governments have traditionally done when they simply can't pay their debts is print more money. The problem with this is the further you expand the money supply, the less the money you already have on hand is worth. This can wipe out the savings of a lifetime in a relatively short period. Imagine spending billions of dollars just to buy a loaf of bread. Sound far-fetched? Well, guess what? That has happened in the Weimar Republic, which was crushed under debts from WWI and decided to pay it off by printing more money. It could happen here, too, and all the money you've scrimped and saved could become worthless in a short order.

2) Your taxes will skyrocket. We've been conned into thinking that we can fund a massive government on the backs of the rich. This is simply not so. It's not working today and it's not going to happen in the future. We cannot tax the rich enough to pay off our debt or even enough to keep the government going long-term. Even if we could, the rich have the resources to flee the country for greener pastures if they're being taxed into oblivion. The middle class? Not so much.

What that means is the more desperate the government gets, the more the average American is going to be hammered with new taxes. How much more of your income can you afford to send overseas to pay China for the money they've loaned us to keep PBS, Planned Parenthood, and the National Endowment of the Arts going? What about if the country goes bankrupt and your income tax rate shoots up fifty percent? How are you going to pay your mortgage? How are you going to feed your kids? When the government runs out of cash and it can't borrow any more money, then it will start leveling massive taxes on the American people.

3) Your life could be in danger. If the government goes bankrupt, you'll have an extremely angry, confused, and frustrated populace that has little faith in its leaders -- combined with a horrific economy and a reduced ability of the government to keep order. Under those circumstances, widespread rioting and violent crime seem entirely plausible.

When Argentina had its crisis, violence went up 142% and "young men began looting supermarkets."

Here's some of what happened during the German hyperinflation of the currency in Weimar Republic after it started printing money night and day,

The flight from currency that had begun with the buying of diamonds, gold, country houses, and antiques now extended to minor and almost useless items -- bric-a-brac, soap, hairpins. The law-abiding country crumbled into petty thievery. Copper pipes and brass armatures weren't safe. Gasoline was siphoned from cars. People bought things they didn't need and used them to barter -- a pair of shoes for a shirt, some crockery for coffee. Berlin had a "witches' Sabbath" atmosphere. Prostitutes of both sexes roamed the streets. Cocaine was the fashionable drug.

4) Your payments from the government will dramatically decrease or stop altogether. Contrary to what some people believe, Medicare and Social Security are paid out of the same fund that pays for everything else. In other words, if the government goes bankrupt, there is no money set aside to pay for these programs. So, if you're receiving Social Security, Medicare, welfare, food stamps, or any other similar programs, those checks could stop or be slashed down to nothing. That seems unthinkable to people, but if the government doesn't have any money, then it can't pay it out to people. As they say, "You can't get blood out of a turnip."

5) You will have a dramatically reduced standard of living. If taxes and inflation escalate dramatically, both of which are very likely if we go bankrupt, economic activity will slow to a crawl and we'll go into a depression. We're not talking about a "This is the worst economy since the Depression" situation that we hear every time there's a mild downturn in the economy; we're talking about a REAL depression. Businesses will close left and right, the stock market will tank, unemployment will soar to heights not seen since the thirties, and the government won't be in a position to help very much.

If that happens in a country like America, where people have been so prosperous for so long, it's going to produce utter misery. It's not a lot of fun to be poor under the best of circumstances, but it's much worse to go from having a comfortable life with a bright future to growing vegetables to eat in the backyard and wondering how you're going to keep warm in the winter.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: alqaedaagenda; bankrupt; broke; cwii; debt; dncagenda; obamaagenda; obamaeconomy; reality; traitorsvsamerica; weimar
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To: Kaslin

If in 1965, I bought goods or services for $20 then in 2011, the same goods or services would cost $140.


41 posted on 04/12/2011 9:46:47 AM PDT by Obadiah (I don't mind Obama's vacations. It's his coming back that bothers me.)
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To: US Navy Vet
Two more words “Nazi America”.

With the whites being the new "jews"

42 posted on 04/12/2011 9:47:29 AM PDT by clamper1797 (Pray for Obama ... Psalms 109:8)
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To: Sir Gawain

I don’t seem to read anywhere where the Politicains in the 1920s-1930s German Weimer Republic being held to account for that screw-up? Someone correct me if I am wrong.


43 posted on 04/12/2011 9:47:47 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
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To: EyeGuy

If you have enough acreage for a sizable garden and maybe enough to support some livestock, and, it’s defensible from threats, it would probably make sense. I really think we’re going to look back in a couple of years and fondly reminisce about the great economy of 2011. The politicians can’t keep up the charade forever. It’s really starting to come apart now....


44 posted on 04/12/2011 9:48:19 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (The theft being perpetrated by Congress and the Fed makes Bernie Maddoff look like a pickpocket.)
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To: GeronL
The problem is that it is not clear who would win such a battle.

True. But the real problem that precedes that is, will anyone even be willing to fight for the Republic?

Very few are willing to sacrifice *anything* now to stop the madness. What number will be willing to place their lives on the line?

Surely some will fight when they come for us. By then it will be too late.

45 posted on 04/12/2011 9:48:58 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there)
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To: LibLieSlayer
I tend to talk now about the Second Republic of the United States. In my opinion, the First Republic has failed and is slowly and inevitably collapsing around us. There will be a war. There will be an eventual rebuilding.

The Second Republic of the United States may be better than what we have now. It may be worse. But I think it's coming, and I don't think we can avoid it.

46 posted on 04/12/2011 9:49:01 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: ClearCase_guy
Me neither.

And I do not yet see how a GOP that is too fearful of negative press to cut $100 billion will have the courage to force it all to stop by saying no raising the debt ceiling. It is so obvious to see that our government is a heroin junky. It will either be death or cold turkey intervention. If the GOP has the guts for cold turkey, I (and millions of others) will be eternally grateful to them. The RATS want death...because after death they believe they will have complete, open dictatorial rule, with them as the dictators.

But nothing I have seen from the GOP, ever, gives me the confidence to believe that they will force cold turkey.

47 posted on 04/12/2011 9:50:37 AM PDT by Scott from the Left Coast
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To: ClearCase_guy

Everyone should check their mortgage contracts now to look for the words “US Dollars”.

If it says “US Dollars or equivalent”, you need to try to get that changed.
Any new mortgages you get, you should INSIST on “US Dollars” only in the wording.

Otherwise, they can require you to pay it off in “reset” money.


48 posted on 04/12/2011 9:53:28 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Thermalseeker

“I really think we’re going to look back in a couple of years and fondly reminisce about the great economy of 2011.”

I think about this everytime we have a birthday for one of the kids, at Christmas, Easter, large family get-togethers, etc...

We have prepared for the worst.

But I can’t shake the sinking feeling that these days may be the best the kids will have for the foreseeable future.


49 posted on 04/12/2011 9:53:59 AM PDT by ConservativeWarrior (In last year's nests, there are no birds this year.)
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To: Zakeet

Ah, but they “got the guns” first then.
They don’t have the time or the will to do that here today.


50 posted on 04/12/2011 9:54:48 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin
When we go bankrupt?!!

Who is defining "bankrupt" here? It seems like we (US govt.) are already there.

51 posted on 04/12/2011 9:55:33 AM PDT by Rudder (The Main Stream Media is Our Enemy---get used to it.)
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To: Kaslin

Buy gold and stay armed?


52 posted on 04/12/2011 9:55:51 AM PDT by GVnana
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

I will feel great resentment having to feed democrat voting relatives after the crash.

I’ll put ‘em to work, though. Post holes, plowing, slopping pigs, etc.


53 posted on 04/12/2011 9:56:21 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: ClearCase_guy

While that sounds good, what it really means is the total value of developed American real estate - probably the largest store of wealth in the world - will become next to worthless. That’s a very bad thing for the future of the country...


54 posted on 04/12/2011 9:57:18 AM PDT by piytar (Godwin's rule is null and void. If you don't know what I mean, you aren't paying attention...)
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To: ConservativeWarrior

The next time I get one of those slips in a Chinese fortune cookie that says “May you live in interesting times” I’m going to burn it.


55 posted on 04/12/2011 9:57:28 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (The theft being perpetrated by Congress and the Fed makes Bernie Maddoff look like a pickpocket.)
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To: Kaslin

If you something even more frightening than the economy collapse, ponder this; who will bear the responsibility? Will Americans suddenly wake up and realize what the left has done to it, or will those who were willing but unable to avert the catastrophe get trashed by the MSM, pushing America even further toward facism from the left?


56 posted on 04/12/2011 9:57:35 AM PDT by Spok
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To: Kaslin

bttt.


57 posted on 04/12/2011 9:58:21 AM PDT by Jane Long (2 Chron 7:14)
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To: ClearCase_guy
I tend to talk now about the Second Republic of the United States. In my opinion, the First Republic has failed and is slowly and inevitably collapsing around us. There will be a war. There will be an eventual rebuilding.
 
You could be right, but do you think it is too late to take over Congress and the WH in 2012, pass the Balanced Budget Ammendment to the Constitution in 2013, rally 2/3 of the states to ratify it, say, in 3-4 years, and save the First Republic?
 
The founders gave us the means to fix this mess, so do you think this remedy is in any way feasible, or just wishful thinking?

58 posted on 04/12/2011 10:05:37 AM PDT by Let_It_Be_So
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To: EyeGuy

That is what I did. Well, not quite pay off the mortgage but I did pay off a substantial amount of debt. I now have a positive cash flow and I’m using that money to stock up on guns, food and looking to buy some farm land. If the dollar can hold for another 2 to 3 years, I should have a paid off, selfsustaining farm that I can go live on if things go bad.

I already have a 2.5 acre mountain bug out site if I need that. It is not quite a retreat yet. Still needs well, septic, wind/solar power, but me and my four could make it out there.


59 posted on 04/12/2011 10:05:37 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: Kaslin
6. The Marxists and union thugs running the government will keep their rich, lavish lifestyles. The rest of us will also be bankrupt and wholly dependent upon the largesse of our masters. This guarantees revolution.
60 posted on 04/12/2011 10:16:15 AM PDT by pabianice
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