The most important and consequential trend of the twenty-first century has been the rapid expansion of centralized power and the resulting collapse of government competence. We are experiencing widespread and accelerating [federal] government failure.
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Ironically, a collapse of the U.S. government would produce many great benefits, given its present size, cost, intrusiveness, and ineptitude. Of course, the social dysfunction caused by disruption of Social Security and other entitlements would be massive; shortages of food and other essentials would be devastating; the temptation for other nations to attack us in a variety of ways would be irresistible; and other dire problems would arise.
The states, however, especially the red ones, would surely step in to restore order and cooperate with one another to support interstate commerce, protect the nation’s borders, and take care of the less fortunate in more sensible and affordable ways. As the Texas border protection effort indicates, many states are eager to do just that.
Though it would involve an agonizing period of adjustment, a devolution of power from the federal government to the states and localities would be a boon, well worth the temporary suffering. Until governments stop promising the moon, conditions here in the real world will continue to deteriorate.
Interesting article, but frankly these takes are starting to make my ass sore. The whole non-Marxist commentariat is now gearing up to spew similar expert smoke up the asses of an eager public. Personally, I find more interest in speculations that are actual fictions as opposed to the fictions labeled commentary.
For example, William Lind’s “Victoria” is a wonderful speculative future that continues to impress and not be bypassed by events. There’s also Kurt Schlicter’s Kelly Turnbull series that, in addition to being hilariously funny, offers serious commentary on how screwed we are and interesting speculation on the near future. Schlicter’s “The Attack”, which just came out and I’m finishing as fast as I can, is scary as hell and is centered around the real purpose of the border invasion and the resulting events. There’s other fiction authors like T.L. Davis, my old co-blogger on the late lamented Washington Rebel site, who are mining the same vein.
I am pretty sure if Moe Zetung and/or Korean Kim Junior bombed Worshington D.C. ‘back to the Stone Age’, pretty much nobody would notice… or care.
I imagine a couple-three folks would appreciate the flattening, and would probably applaud.
Nobody I know would, of course, but those fringe odd-balls probably exist.