What will kill the U.S.A.?
 

All great empires have a limited life span. Is ours coming to an end? If so, why?

Casual observation says deregulation created the current environment responsible for the housing and energy crises:

Phil and Wendy Graham deregulating energy first giving us Enron, then wild oil speculation.


The Fed, SEC and Congressional Banking Committees all ignored junk mortgages first given to unqualified consumers, then sold on the world financial markets as complex investment vehicles.


What is killing the U.S.A.? What will kill the U.S.A.?

I think people with the mentality to blame Phil Gramm and his wife for Enron and oil speculation contribute a disproportionate share of what's killing our country.

hubris

Rick, are you saying the Phil and Wendy didn't kick off energy deregulation?

What is killing the U.S.A.? What will kill the U.S.A.?

Illegal immigration and the liberal mindset

Algore. He gave us the internet, manbearpig and Mule. ;)

I'm saying that thought would not have even entered your head if not for Phil Gramm's very brief appearance in the 24 hr. news cycle last week. Phil Gramm has been out of office now longer than Enron has been out of business and somehow you want to blame gas prices on him and his wife? I know you can do better than that.

Imperialism.

+1

Very good answer. I agree.

Ian

Socialists, but not for a long time.

+1

Hippies.

Would either of you fellas care to expand?

Our lack of it?

you get partial credit Rick. Tabs and I had this conversation at the Golden Nugget 4 years ago, but yes, Graham and oil speculation of late sparked my memory.

Was Wendy on the Board at Enron? How did she get there? What was the timing? Ever hear of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act? Who pushed that through?

hope your knee is ok.:D

Yep. We had a damn fine republic but we began to behave as if we were an empire.

Liberalism/socialism and the inherent unsustainability (and entitlement complexes) that go along with it. Hubris is right up there too.

1) Yes
2) Appointed like most ex-admin. officials after their party loses the WH
3) Same as presidential elections
4) Yes
5) Did a Pres. Gramm sign it?

Tell me how either of them have anything to do with gas prices now. Furthermore, energy prices aren't even remotely close to what will bring this country down. Plenty of other countries pay far more for gas than we do and they're doing fine (relatively speaking).

Apathy