Dec272011
14 Depressing lessons for America from the slow collapse of Greece
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Other nations are hesitant to provide assistance to a nation nearing economic collapse , and for most, it won’t even be possible. In the case of America, how many nations will be able to bail us out? China’s economy is in more trouble than most people realize and most every other developed nation has similar struggles.
- Public services will become unreliable as a government and economy collapse. Services we now take for granted, such as police, firefighters, and sanitation, will be poorly staffed and many will simply shut down leaving citizens to do their best on their own.
- Government agencies will be forced to drastically reduce their budgets, leaving millions of Americans without services. It will be more difficult to do just about anything related to the government except paying taxes.
- Confusing laws and red tape will increase as lawmakers at every level attempt to extract more taxes from their constituents in order to stay afloat.
- New “creative” tax laws may be retroactive, will be overly burdensome, and include extreme penalties for non-payment.
- Public sector retirees will realize their pensions aren’t nearly as safe as they had anticipated and public employees will experience missed paychecks and reduced hours.
- Healthcare benefits will all but cease to exist and the quality of healthcare will be threatened. Medical treatment and medications will become prohibitively expensive.
- Overall, the level of physical health will decline. More people will forego important medical care and ignore warning signs of serious health issues. This will cause more people to have weakened immune systems, allowing the spread of disease and opening the door to deadly epidemics. Ultimately, the lifespan of Americans will significantly decline.
- Businesses will continue to close, unemployment will rise, and families will have less and less income to cover their most basic expenses, much less any luxuries to make their lives more comfortable.
- Banks will experience runs by depositors desperate to conserve whatever cash they have. This will limit the ability of banks to loan money to businesses, thus impacting an already hard-hit economy.
- The middle-class, formerly used to a comfortable lifestyle, will be devastated, with millions finding themselves homeless and hungry and without any hope for the future. Dumpster diving will become a way of life for many. As families use up their savings and retirement funds, government assistance will be limited or no longer available.
- A collapse will take a deadly toll on the emotional and mental health of individuals, causing a rise in divorce, addictions, abuse, and suicide.
- Family ties will become severely strained as parents are unable to help their children and desperate families are unable to take in destitute relatives.
- Civil unrest will increase as desperate, angry people turn their wrath upon the individuals and entities they blame for the crisis.
I read recently that, “It’s always the case that the world changes before the human mind grasps the change that is upon it.” The Greek people and their politicians are struggling to come to terms with the results of decades of irresponsible spending. One Greek described it as, “living a lie,” much like an estranged married couple pretending to be happily married when in public. America’s politicians are making similar mistakes to those that have brought Greece to the brink. Hang on, we’re in for a wild ride, and if we’re smart, we’ll learn lessons from the decline of Greece.
“Greece in Chaos” by Noelle Burgi
“Ten Years to Greece” by John Stossel
© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(9) Readers Comments
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PrepperGal
They may be depressing lessons, but they're realistic observations. I'm beginning to think our leadership in DC are like a bunch of kids who, when faced with hearing something they don't like, stick their fingers in their ears and yell "LALALALALALA…I CAN"T HEAR YOU!!!" Haven't we all been taught that "those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it"? They must see and hear what's going on around the world, yet they continue as though all's well. Sigh…..
TheSurvivalMom
At least our eyes are open. Once you become aware of the precarious situation we are in, as a nation, then you can begin educating yourself and preparing for the worst.
Lynda
Excellent posts.
Bets'
When I read 'The Quickening' by Art Bell, way back in the 90's, it read like fiction.
Not so much now. Now it reads like the future and a lot of the present. It's not just Greece, it's global, like UN dominoes.
Did you ever see the Twilight episode-a kid could see into the future-one day he see's that the sun is going to explode, but tells everyone -tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of your lives. Move along folks…lalalala!! lol
Holly
A good article and reminder that it's a new year, with all manner of opportunities to gather skills, knowledge and resources to become better prepared for whatever may come…choosing to look ahead with eyes and hearts wide open. Wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Thanks for the article Lisa!
AuntB
It is a scary world out there and as the days go by I won't how long the global economy can hold on. We aren't the only people thinking and preparing. I read on Drudge today that a half million guns were sold in the 6 days before Christmas. The hot item was not an Ipod or tablet, it was firearms. To me that raises a flag that maybe I need to step it up.
xqtr
"14 Depressing lessons for America from the slow collapse of Greece"? hahaha Here in Greece we believe that is the opposite… "14 Depressing lessons for Greece from the slow collapse of America"…
Mass media, are doing an excellent job…
Every country believes that is better (economical speaking) than the others… but all together they collapse in exactly the same way…
TheSurvivalMom
You may be surprised to know that my research and sources of information came from European news sources. However, no one is more aware than me and my readers that America is on the decline as well.
moldy
As a nurse, I am seeing an exponential rise in addictive behaviors and their consequences. People are anxious and are self-medicating any way they can. Of course, these are the people that also can’t really pay their bills, so the cost of their care is being eaten by the facility and taxpayers.