Russian Scholar Predicts Economic Crisis Will Rip America Apart (Barf alert)

Fox News ^ | 11-25-08

[durasell]

NYC, for instance, gets all of its power and water “in state.”
And red states may provide the food, but the factory farms are owned by multinationals.

However, Mad Max fantasies aside. When you talk about blue states, you’re talking about financial and corporate centers that are central to our nation, just as red agri-business is central to the country.

In all seriousness, red states have a real problem with depopulation. A trend that started years ago with the richest guys in town sending their kids to college and then off to the big cities, has picked up pace. There are parts of Kansas, for instance, that will literally give you land to live there or open a business there.

To make red states, such as Alabama viable again will take a tremendous amount of investment.

[durasell]

...and for the record, when you talk about an armed insurgency, you’re talking about treason.

Also, the Russians have always mis-judged the U.S., thinking that our differences made us weaker or that our society was based solely on money. They were wrong years ago and they’re wrong now.

[oldenuff2no]

That’s what the British said!

[oldenuff2no]

That is all relevant as to how hungry and thirsty they get. It wouldn't take a massive revolution to plant charges on the big electric towers or to blow a hole in the pipes or canals that take the water to the cities. A few bridges down on the interstates in strategic locations and things start to snarl up pretty fast. There are more than a few of us around who have first hand knowledge of what a few dedicated souls can do.
The logistics of causing great turmoil for our cities isn't that complicated.

[durasell]

I’m sure you have your reasons, but truly, if you think it through you’ll see you are talking about traitorous acts. You are suggesting acts that are no better than those dreamed about by America’s worst enemies.

[oldenuff2no]

Our worst enemies are now, and have been for the last 60 years, SOCIALISTS!!!!!!
The USSR was socialist and we had a very long cold war before she fell.
It makes no difference if the socialists are foreign or domestic. They are enemies of our constitution and our way of life.
I would reply to you that Obama is nothing more that America's Hugo Chavez. In the beginning he was also elected by a free people and now they are free no more. Every time he speaks freely without s script pure socialism rolls right out of his mouth. It isn't hard to see where his heart is and where he intends to take this country.

[durasell]

In most countries of the world the term “socialist” are widely seen as part of the mainstream politics. In America, one of the few exceptions to this attitude, we often use the terms socialist and communist interchangeably.

[oldenuff2no]

Socialism seems to lead to communism. Hugo in now a self avowed Socialist but in his own words wants to take his country down the same road that Cuba traveled. Cuba is clearly Communist. The two are very closely connected.

[durasell]

It’s a matter of degrees. Most of Europe has active socialist parties who have been in power at one time or another, i.e. Sweden.

George Orwell (aka Eric Blair) was an avowed socialist, but hated communism.

Apparently socialism remains in check as long as there is a counter force at work.

[oldenuff2no]

I've spent time in Europe and have witnessed what you are saying. I think it depends on how socialism arrives on the scene. If a socialist politician is elected and doesn't challenge the constitution then most of the time things stay afloat. There are changes, loss of personal rights and freedoms, and great economic loss for capitalists but the ship does not sink for awhile. Eventually the economic situation gets where France is today and that is bankrupt. I have family who just returned from three years teaching in France. In France a right wing leader has just been elected by a socialist society in hopes that he can save their socialist utopia. Now doesn't that make a lot of since. If socialism is imposed by force or pushed by elected officials beyond what is allowed by the local constitution then communism will result. The old constitution can not be allowed to function properly or it would expel the socialist from power.
Have you ever been to Iceland?

[durasell]

Never been to Iceland.

I think America has a unique culture that will reject hardcore socialism. Perhaps this is due in part to our independent streak. However, we are not above borrowing socialist concepts in the name of pragmatism — either long term or short term.

[oldenuff2no]

The truth is that we have many socialist systems in place already and more coming soon. The politicians, all the politicians, seem to believe that our government can provide everything for everyone. The members of congress believe that all power rests in their hands. our president elect has made it clear that he will redistribute the personal wealth of our people. These things are the classic definition of socialism. The major difference between the socialists here and those in Europe is that over there they freely admit that they are socialists. They make the same speeches as the democrats do here and use the same exact words. The socialists here at home just don’t have the gonads to be honest about who and what they are. They are socialists!!! It doesn’t really matter if the admit it or not, their actions and words clearly define them as socialists.

[durasell]

It’s all part of the Great American discussion that has been going on since Hamilton and Jefferson.

Here’s the problem, how do we fix it? Following by much name calling and debate, which is usually followed by the right solution.

[oldenuff2no]

You have a problem working everything out on a taxation basis. You can't eat that tax data and you can't drink it either. The international currency of survival is food and fresh water. If things coma apart those who have it will be wealthy/powerful and will call the shots.
Taxes in this country is all about social programs for the cities and distribution paper that will become useless and worthless.

[durasell]

Actually the cities require less funding than many of the rural states — distribution patterns are, of course, different. The Tax Foundation has done a detailed analysis of this. For instance, NY gets about 75 cents back for every dollar it sends to DC. Alabama gets back about a $1.30.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Igor Panarin, a professor at the diplomatic academy of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs...”

I’m pretty sure that his ‘academy’ is advertised on the inside cover of matchbooks found at any local bar, worldwide. ;)

[Revolting cat!]

We can laugh all we want, but the Russkies know us better than we know them (regardless of if this dude is right or wrong.) I recall a Soviet defector on William F. Buckley's old show who said that if KGB were General Motors, the CIA would be a corner filling station.

It took decades, but look who they've just got elected to POTUS!