[_jal]

I have that book in my pile. Skipped it last time I picked up the next one, due to not quite being in the right frame of mind for a depressing read.

> So I'm pessimistic that we can solve the issue in a more pleasant manner.

Oh, I'm quite sure we can't. The peaceful dissolution of the USSR has been a miracle, although that story isn't really over yet. The U.S., at least, will not have a pitchfork moment so anywhere near so quietly.

The question of 'how bad does it have to get' is quite relevant to those of us who have enough money to be planning for retirement, but not enough for his'n'her's yachts - what are the odds that we should maybe start scoping retirement-nations with the best combinations of freedom, opportunity and tolerance for refugees from a place famously losing tolerance for refugees?

[maxxxxx]

"The peaceful dissolution of the USSR has been a miracle, although that story isn't really over yet. "

I would argue that dissolution didn't really level anything. It just gave a few oligarchs an opportunity to grab vast fortunes for cheap.

[_jal]

That's a fair point. I don't think the process is over, which is why that was qualified.

I was talking more about the dissolution of a major nation-state, but mixed that in with book discussion, so I wasn't being clear.