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The US is already technically broke with a debt/GDP ratio of 124% and rising rapidly. They will keep printing money though but the chickens will eventually come home to roost. By comparison Australias debt/GDP ratio is 34.4%.

Well, you've just put yourself on an ASIO watchlist OT!

That's done it for me. I am ready to abandon democracy. In it's modern form it thrives on dividing society, on promoting extremism and on protecting oligarcs. Tweedism. Bring on government by A.I. It is my only hope for a logic based government. One that is constantly scanning and constantly responsive to the will of the masses.

Remember when we had a third party - the Democrats? That was before the Greens, wasn't it? We also had the Democratic Labor Party, and the Communist Party.

I don't like a two party system, mostly because it works like a duoploy. It gives the impression that we have a choice without actually giving MUCH choice. The biggest flaw in politics is the hidden financial 'sponsorship' directly favoring candidates. Someone famously said, “I don’t care who does the electing as long as I do the nominating.” All that happens way before the actual election where we try to vote for a 'least worst' candidate, whilst pondering 'was that the best they could find for us'?

Is USofA actually becoming a 'failed state'? When the dust finally settles in the Middle East (I know, that's an oxymoron), will USofA go broke? According to a report in the Washington Post, “Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at U.S. military sites across the Middle East since the war began, hitting hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft and key radar, communications and air defense equipment.” The above costs have not been estimated in war expenses. So in a 2 month 'brief excursion' in M.E. donold increased national spending by $50 BILLION. And depleted major weaponry by circa 60%. To the east go the spoils of war.

Tis, at a deeper level than a Trump brainfart, not only about oil & grift. It's all about military industry salesmanship. Long read but an interesting look at the game playing in M.E. https://wajeehlion.substack.com/p/empty-quivers-and-digital-yuan-chinas

As did the storepeople - selling picks, spades, panning dishes, pots and pans, tents, boots, hats, flannette shirts, moleskin trousers, bedrolls, pistols, tobacco, and all the stuff that miners need to survive in rugged terrain. Leather pouches for holding gold nuggets were a must, and even small gold scales were in high demand. https://www.teachersuperstore.com.au/assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Australian-Gold-Rushes-Daily-Life-in-the-Goldfields-Sample-Pages.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoognpJMnehL-vguNxLwGH8D-mVtaStuRkHpYIh5fYWxlKe1IS01

He's a class act, our Willie. He's very selective with his scrap bin exploits. Only the finest bins meet his exacting standards. 😄

Better than finding a half eaten pie, that's for sure.