The end of the American Empire?

[Cyrano]

Who knows?

Nixon was a Dick, (pun intended), who really didn't do much to destroy the American safety net built by FDR and Lyndon Johnson.

Ronald Reagan's appointees, on the other hand, had one mission. Wipe out government oversight, interference in business, and social justice.

Well, this time around, Trump might just deliver on the Republican wet dream of the castration of the American government.

This has been the GOP's stated goal for decades. So why should we not take them at their word?

President elect Trump has already demonstrated his intentions with his White House and his cabinet appointments. Does anyone seriously doubt that those cabinet appointments (if confirmed) will do all they can to dismantle the federal departments in which they are put in charge?

Every empire in history has fallen. Perhaps it's our turn.

If so, it won't be pleasant, and there will be much pain along the way. Of course, that pain will fall mostly upon us peasants before it ever reaches the wealthy and powerful.

Some here are too old to get up and move elsewhere. Some will stay to fight in any way possible. Some will never see it coming. And some will document the destruction and store it somewhere in which they hope future archaeologists and historians will find it.

The biggest fear I have is that we are currently the most powerful military power that ever existed on this planet, and we have the power to destroy the planet with our nuclear arsenal. Let us all hope that this does not happen.

[FarCenter]

1. The natural response to a sole superpower is for the other powers to form a coalition against it

Which accounts for a range of behaviors by other countries ranging from opposing to passive aggressive.

[Pisces]

2. Americans as a whole are drunk off of our own hype. If you were to poll people they would

Think we are number 1 in every category. They would never believe the facts on our place in education and health care. Rome fell and so can we.

[dhill926]

3. you articulated my biggest fear....

the rest I think, we can survive...

"The biggest fear I have is that we are currently the most powerful military power that ever existed on this planet, and we have the power to destroy the planet with our nuclear arsenal. Let us all hope that this does not happen."

[lpbk2713]

4. Trump wants to finish off the New Deal with his Screw Deal.

They have been chipping away at it for 75 years and they might
just meet their objective with the country's eyes wide open.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Well yes actually

We are seeing a wave of conservatism sweep first world nations--not just here in the US, England, Germany, France--although admittedly those governments have different structures, ones that doesn't always translate to US culture. Anti-Immigration is strong and getting stonger, as war torn nations pay the price for post-colonialism.

And yet, developing nations are, well developing. They want their share of the pie. The reason Obama supported the TPP is because he wanted the US to have a strong voice in international trade. Now we will use hidden strong-arm tactics and Nafta. China for instance,? invests a lot inthe US, I don't know how a Trump presidency is going to affect that,

I do believe, as we refuse to negotiate, at least up front, we are on the verge of losing economic influence. We can't pretend we don't live in a global economy--or we can, but the price will be very high.

The nuclear danger comes from angry men who have studied past wars and who think a little radiation fall out is worth ridding the world of Isis. In fact Trumps new SoS may be just such a man. And people called Hillary "hawkish" silly us.