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Hmm, if it were to fall, I'd say it would happen this way:
First the EU should gain superpower status which is near that of the US.
Now, if that happens the world economy will no longer be dependent on the dollar, but other currencies, mainly euro, would become equally acceptable. That would hurt the US economy, and in turn make it a less appealing place to live in. Since a large majority of US scientists are foreigners, and mainly of european descent, that development of situation would cause major scientists to want to live in the EU instead of the US. That would make the US lose its technological advance over the rest of the world. The only thing that would remain would be a large army, which would gradually be reduced, due to its expenses. As time goes by, a new generation of uneducated and largely uncapable americans would take the lead of the country, which would ensure its further decline. America would then become dependant upon agricultural exports, as it would loose its supremacy in all other areas. Now, since midwest is the primary source of wheat for america, it would gain much importance. The american capital would eventually move to the bible belt, and more and more radical christian leaders would get in power. Tensions would grow high, and eventually radical christians would incite a revolution, which would result in a newly established theocracy. Those major corporations that still were in the US would immediately retreat to other countries, mainly the new superpowers like the EU, Russia, or China. The arab world would in the meanwhile enter a new reign of prosperity, as american support of radical regimes would disappear, and people would overthrow islamists and dictators. Arab countries would unite to form a new country, the Union of Arabic States (UAS). Some of the US companies would retreat to that area as well, since the opressive religious regime in the US would not allow them to function normally. That would result in a radical decline of funds, and soon wheat exports would not be enough for the american economy to sustain itself. Farmers would largely resort to the opium plantations instead, as wheat farms would not generate enough money to sustain their large christian families. Also, a growing anger would spur in people, an anger which the radical clerics would direct against the EU and the UAS as the main source of evil. A new wave of anti-muslim sentiment would arise, and the masses would want to get rid of arabic influence over the american christian lands. A new radical terrorist organisation, called PNAC (Project for the New American Century) would rise out of the anonimity, and would start attacking european and arabic targets worldwide. In the meanwhile, the rest of the world would be astounded by the barbarian behaviour of the PNAC, like destroying centuries old statues of 4 american presidents in South Dakota, largest presidential statues in the world. Anyway, after some major terrorist attacks, the EU, the UAS, Russia, and China would enter a coallition and attack the US. The US army would no longer present a problem, as their nuclear weapons became unusable due to lack of maintainance. Soon, after a quick war, the US would be split into 4 sectors, the Alascan sector (Russia), the Western sector (China), the Southeastern sector (UAS) and the Northwestern sector (EU). Soon, those sectors would officially become territories of the new superpowers, and the name USA would no longer exist in history books.
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1+1=10
Last edited by DrUg_Tit0 on Jun-23-2003 at 12:36
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. That makes 15 straight weeks over 400K. Perhaps the economy is just normalizing at a higher level of unemployment after the greed and bubble environment of the late 90's. I maintain that we're in a cyclical bull market within a secular bear market. Rupert makes some good points though they're rather dire, while you make some excellent points, though potentially a bit optimistic. Who knows though, you may both be right for all I know. 
