[Rockingham]

Even with current policies, the US can manage its federal public finances for at least another decade and probably much longer without suffering major dislocations. The US has tremendous strengths and, with the right leadership and policies, a bright future as well.

We are far better off than China, which is getting old before getting rich. In addition, the worldwide development of shale oil and gas resources and of new forms of nuclear energy -- thorium fission reactors and hot and cold fusion -- offer the prospect of greatly reducing the wealth and power of OPEC and thereby forcing the reform of Islam and its stagnant, toxic societies.

Moreover, the US is likely to remain the world's sole superpower. China lacks the inherent strength, experience, and cultural and political appeal to be a superpower. As has been the case since WW II, a US led global alliance and US supervised international institutions are likely to remain in charge and to prevent a general war while overseeing world-wide prosperity and material progress.

[laplata]

Thanks for that. Good perspective.

“The US has tremendous strengths and, with the right leadership and policies, a bright future as well”.

That is the key.

[1010RD]

Good and rational comments throughout this thread. If I wanted to sell off my gold at a profit this is the thread I would post on FR.