[kbenson]

The question is, how much of the status quo your describe is because we're not in a self contained system, and actually outsource a lot of the problems to developing countries? If the system you describe was constrained to just the United States, and no goods or capital could enter or leave, would we expect a similar system? Because scaled up, that's the world in X decades. Unless we decide, and rely on, various insurrections, rebellions and regime changes to change the system in some countries such that there's always a third world economy to take advantage of. Even if that's the reality of the future (which I think is morally repugnant to rely on), there's no guarantee that cheap external labor won't be extremely constrained in the future, even if it's not entirely gone. (Unless we specifically cause it to be so through political maneuvering and war, but I like to think that's crackpot territory...).

[CodeMage]

> Unless we decide, and rely on, various insurrections, rebellions and regime changes to change the system in some countries such that there's always a third world economy to take advantage of.

> (Unless we specifically cause it to be so through political maneuvering and war, but I like to think that's crackpot territory...).

When you look at the history of the world and consider current geopolitical situation, what leads you to believe that's crackpot territory?

[kbenson]

I'm not sure. I'm hoping it's not some combination of wishful thinking and denial. :/