Unfoldinding Tragedies - National Examples

Politicians write laws to create benefits for some and charge the costs to others. Libertarians call that robbing Peter to pay Paul. But Politics as Usual, that is to say voters and the politicians they choose, call this 'fair'.

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said it best, "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money". This is happening now here in the US as well.

The US economy is in decline and has been for decades. Reasons include demographics, global economic competition, Congressional tax, spend and regulatory consequences, federal fiscal policy and monetary intervention by the Federal Reserve. Cracks in the social fabric and body politic are forming everywhere. We can see these in municipal bankruptcies, poor employment prospects, high food stamp participation, federal deficits and debt.

Decline is evident at all levels and widely distributed. Fiscal troubles in:

• Puerto Rico
• Chicago
• Orange County California
• City of Hillview, Ky.
• City of Detroit, Mich.
• City of San Bernardino, Calif.
• Town of Mammoth Lakes, Calf.
• City of Stockton, Calif.
• Jefferson County, Ala.
• City of Harrisburg, Pa.
• City of Central Falls, R.I.
• Boise County, Idaho
• Central Falls, Rhode Island
• Vallejo, California
• San Bernardino, California
• Jefferson County, Alabama
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• and more.

Once the economic pie begins to shrink expanding demand for a decreasing supply tends to create social competition and conflict because political allegience becomes harder to buy. Such events are also starting to become evident.

• Tea Party
• The election of President Trump
• Anti-Trump movements
• Pro-Trump demonstrations
• The Occupy movement was a backlash to the financial crisis.
• Black Lives Matter 
• Demonstrations and civil disobedience for numerous causes: housing, police misconduct, use of federal land, environment, immigration, race...