10 Signs The US Is Rapidly Changing: Of Mass Discontent, Economic Decline & A Steadily Closing Border

[Editor's Note: The following post is by TDV Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Berwick]

The US is changing in big and disparate ways. It is tough to make sense of it all. Surely, the US government is out of control and in steady decline, representing a major danger for the economy and the world generally, but at the same time there have been big positives in recent memory, like bitcoin, 3D printing, and so on. Even police are going to jail in the US sometimes. 

I am noticing the old way of making laws doesn’t work anymore. Technology is so much faster than bureaucracy it is like a slapstick comedy. 

And technology is changing ever-faster. Each and everyday technology makes laws obsolete. For instance, did you know it is illegal to ship pornography into Russia? As well as documents “dangerous to the social order?” That law is totally obsolete today, because of the internet. 

Here are 10 signs the US is rapidly changing:

1. Bitcoin has experienced rapid growth, so-much-so that Google (US company) is planning on accepting bitcoin. 

2. Perhaps the internet is also much of the reason for some interesting Gallup poll results. Gallup released its “Mood of the Nation” poll yesterday. It turns out 65% of Americans are “unhappy with the size and power of the federal government.” And 65% of Americans “are [also] dissatisfied with the nation’s system of government and how well it works, the highest percentage in Gallup’s trend since 2001.” The poll uncovered that “Republicans and independents are largely responsible for the overall decrease in satisfaction with government effectiveness in recent years,” and “satisfaction among Republicans and independents began to wane during President George W. Bush’s final year in office.”

3. Could it be that the only people who still like the government depend on the government for survival? Let’s break down the numbers a little: it might be true that, if 65% of US citizens are unhappy with the size and power of the federal government, the other third is dependent on the government for survival. (either through work or welfare) There are approximately 2.5 million government employees (then there is the black budget, which is not reflected in that number). But there are 80 million on food stamps. Let’s say there are 115 million on unemployment (based on this number of 37.2%). With 312 million living in the US, that’s about one-third who are directly dependent upon the US government. The rest doesn’t like it. 

4. The above-mentioned paradigm shift over the last five years might have to do with record low viewers of mainstream media. Having laid-off more than 40 senior journalists in its news-gathering operation, CNN might now employ as many news-gatherers as TDV Media. “We’re expanding the definition of news,” a CNN employee said in newspeak about the network’s direction.

5. Marijuana is now legal in two US states, and I suspect what has happened in Colorado and Washington (as well as Uruguay and possibly Peru) will only open the flood-gates. On the whole, I can only think that overtime getting rid of drug laws (especially marijuana) will have a net positive on the economy and on individuals. I hope this will carve the way for a new hemp economy in the US.

6. Obama picked George Tsunis as the next US ambassador to Norway. Why? Because Tsunis raised $500,000 for President Obama in 2012. The problem? Tsunis knows nothing about (at least) Norway…Senator John McCain asked Tsunis about the ruling coalition, and Tsunis replied, “You get some fringe elements that have a a microphone and spew their hatred. And I will tell you Norway has been very quick to denounce them.” McCain quickly pointed out they are a part of the ruling coalition.

Tsunis replied, “I stand corrected. I would like to leave my answer at…it’s a very, very open society and the overwhelming amount of Norwegians and the overwhelming amount of people in parliament don’t feel the same way.” Tsunis also talked about Norway’s “president,” which doesn’t exist. You know, because Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The Norwegian newspaper The Local featured the headline, “Future US envoy displays total ignorance of Norway.”

This is not good for negotiations. Having been in many, many business negotiations, I know it is very important to command respect, have a good reputation and so on and so forth. When the US federal government makes this type of mistake, it only costs the US government more influence through loss of reputation. The US government used to be an example of business fortitude and aptitude. Now, the US is a laughing stock to most of the world, and few want to do business with it. 

7. One of China’s top business men, Wang Jianlin, says the US is “not open enough” for business. ”If we compare [the United States and the European Union], the U.S. is more open than the EU,” he said. “But the U.K. is the most open.” Currently, Britain is trying to make trade relation with China even better.

8. Although many people think we are on our way to recovery, the truth is startlingly the opposite. Some numbers put unemployment figures in the US at an astonishing 37.2%. That won’t be getting better with powerful businessmen openly talking about how it is difficult to do business in the US, as well as our ambassadors showcasing supreme ignorance.

9. America’s once-pastime, baseball, will begin welcoming Department of Homeland Security to all baseball games to help secure the facility, just like has already happened with football. 

10. The US Customs and Border Protection is launching a new pilot program at four Texas border-crossings and one Florida port of entry to increasing staffing. Local governments are now funding CBP, as are private entities “to improve convenience of travelers.” The increased staffing kicks off Sunday in El Paso, Texas. As a “pilot program”, we can be sure that expanded patrols and agents at the border will be a trend seen across the US border, not to keep Mexicans out (they’re leaving anyway), but to keep US citizens in.

The Good, The Bad & The Sovereign

The change is both good and bad, but the bad tends to seriously outweigh the good. With increasing numbers of border protection agents, I feel my prediction that the US border will turn into a tool to keep US citizens in has only grown closer to coming true.  The government will also now attend virtually every sporting event making sure you are “safe,” and likely hassling you for whatever tiny reasons they can muster. And with each embarassment abroad, the US’s economic situation only grows more dire.

For me, I know there is still much work to do. And I know I am in good company. I was very happy to see Peter Schiff almost sounding like an anarcho-capitalist (big almost) on the Joe Rogan Experience, an episode I recommend you check out if you get a chance:

It is more important than ever for us free thinkers stay on our toes and “be the change we wish to see in the world,” as my good friend Luke Rudowski reminds us. Time is running out for many people in the US to remain sovereign. I can tell by all of the interest we’ve received in our TDV Wealth Management Crisis Conference.

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