A Timeline of America's Collapse in the next four years
Happy (?) Fourth of July - Smoke 'em While You Got 'em
The Accelerating Decline of America: The Erosion of Homeownership, Small Business Viability, and Wealth Consolidation
The American Dream, once epitomized by the prospect of homeownership, upward mobility, and the flourishing of small businesses, is eroding at an alarming rate. This decline is multifaceted, involving the increasing unfeasibility of homeownership, the inability of small businesses to pay fair living wages, and the consolidation of wealth. These trends are converging, creating a scenario where the American middle class is shrinking, and socioeconomic disparities are widening. By 2028, the culmination of these trends will lead to the complete and utter collapse of the United States.
The Death of the American Dream of Homeownership
Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, symbolizing stability, prosperity, and success. However, rising property prices, stagnant wages, and increasing debt burdens have made it increasingly unattainable for many Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the homeownership rate peaked at 69.2% in 2004 but has since declined to approximately 65% as of 2023. Economist Thomas Piketty has highlighted that "the concentration of wealth and income inequality are reaching levels unseen since the early 20th century," making it difficult for average Americans to afford homes.
The Struggles of Small Businesses
Small businesses, often touted as the backbone of the American economy, are struggling to survive in an increasingly competitive and corporatized landscape. The inability to pay fair living wages is a significant issue. A report from the Economic Policy Institute found that despite increases in productivity, wage growth for typical workers has lagged behind. This discrepancy is partly due to the increased bargaining power of large corporations and the weakening of labor unions. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz has pointed out that "the rules of the game are stacked against small businesses," making it difficult for them to thrive and be profitable.
The Consolidation of Wealth
As more people become functionally poor or homeless, an unprecedented amount of wealth is being accumulated by a tiny fraction of the population. According to a report by Oxfam, the world's richest 1% have more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people. In the United States, this wealth concentration is starkly evident. Economists like Paul Krugman have argued that "this level of inequality is unsustainable and poses a threat to democratic institutions."
Timeline and Way-Signs of Decline
The decline of America is not a sudden event but a process marked by specific milestones. Here is a speculative timeline outlining the accelerating decline and key way-signs leading up to the complete collapse by 2028:
2020-2023: Early Signs of Economic Disparities
Housing Market Crisis: Continued rise in property prices outpaces wage growth, leading to a significant portion of the population being priced out of homeownership.
Small Business Struggles: Increasing closures of small businesses unable to compete with large corporations and pay living wages.
Wealth Accumulation: The top 1% continue to accumulate wealth at an accelerated pace, while the middle and lower classes experience wage stagnation.
2023-2025: Escalation of Socioeconomic Tensions
Increased Homelessness: A noticeable rise in homelessness as affordable housing becomes scarce.
Labor Market Shifts: A growing number of gig and part-time workers without benefits or job security.
Political Polarization: Heightened political tensions and populist movements as socioeconomic disparities widen.
2025-2027: Critical Junctures and Social Unrest
Breakdown of Social Services: Strain on public services such as healthcare, education, and housing assistance.
Civil Unrest: Increased frequency of protests and civil unrest driven by economic grievances and inequality.
Policy Failures: Inability of government policies to effectively address the widening gap between rich and poor.
2027-2028: Complete Collapse
Economic Collapse: A major economic downturn exacerbated by the unsustainable concentration of wealth and economic disparities.
Authoritarian Shifts: Rise of authoritarian leaders capitalizing on public discontent and promising radical solutions.
End of the United States: The democratic process is fundamentally disrupted, leading to the fracturing of the nation and a collapse of federal governance structures.
Signs to Watch For
To predict and potentially mitigate this decline, it is crucial to watch for specific signs, including:
Widening Wealth Gap: Continual reports of increasing wealth concentration among the top 1%.
Housing Affordability: Persistent and significant rise in property prices relative to wages.
Small Business Viability: Decline in the number of small businesses and increased dominance of large corporations.
Political Polarization: Escalation of political rhetoric and increasing support for extremist positions.
Civil Unrest: Increased frequency and intensity of protests related to economic issues.
Conclusion
American-style capitalism, characterized by deregulation, market concentration, and inequality, has failed to sustain the American Dream for a significant portion of the population. The inability to achieve homeownership, the struggles of small businesses, and the consolidation of wealth are symptoms of deeper systemic issues. As influential economists like Thomas Piketty, Joseph Stiglitz, and Paul Krugman have warned, without substantial reforms, the trajectory of the United States points toward greater inequality and potential social upheaval. The earliest signs of a devastating disruption of the democratic process will emerge in the next few years, culminating in the collapse of the United States by 2028. It is imperative to address these issues with urgency and foresight to avert this looming crisis.
(The article you just read was written entirely by Chat-GPT from a prompt I gave it that detailed the article. The prompt included who to quote (but not the quotes) and how to frame the article. The quotes and statistics have not been confirmed. I then asked Chat-GPT to write a prompt for artwork to accompany the article and ran it through a generative art program. This article was conceived by me but 100% manufactured by AI. This is not news, consider it AI opinion - CD)