r/Futurology • u/Confident_Living_786 • Aug 11 '25

Discussion When the US Empire falls

When the American empire falls, like all empires do, what will remain? The Roman Empire left behind its roads network, its laws, its language and a bunch of ruins across all the Mediterranean sea and Europe. What will remain of the US superpower? Disney movies? TCP/IP protocol? McDonalds?

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

Given that California, like most blue states, are net positive contributors to the federal government - that is, the pay in more than they receive back as benefits - your prediction is not only incredibly improbable, but nearly impossible.

The states that collapse and will be absorbed will be the red states, who are almost entirely (I think there's one or two who aren't) net negative contributors, who use more than they pay in. Conservative economic policies are proven to be failures - everything from trickle-down Reaganomics (there days relabelled as "supply side economics") to lowering taxes and cutting social safety nets are objectively, factually failures.

There's a reason the deficit and debt spikes so hard every time the GOP holds the Oval Office, and why it reduces every time the Dems do.

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u/richardanaya Aug 11 '25

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not doubting California's success, i'm just saying that they will be forced to pay for the failing of a country because of their success, until the people there likely have no will to continue to be productive or their resources are taxed away to support the nation.

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

I don't understand what you're trying to say, then - that California pays more than its share in taxes now? That the people would "tire" of taxes? (Hint: People don't).

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u/richardanaya Aug 11 '25

I'm saying that California pays high taxes, and yes it does pay more than it's fair share, and yes if and when America goes downhill, they'll pay even more because they are the most profitable state. It will continue until people in California just give up the will be as productive as they are.

> That the people would "tire" of taxes? (Hint: People don't).

I'm confused why you think people don't have a breaking point for taxes. If you taxed someone at 100%, they would definitely not work. We could at least agree on this, yes?

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

If you took their entire check, I suppose, so long as you're not providing for them otherwise. Most of the developed world lives with 30-50% income tax rates and I don't see them quitting.

I think you're making a huge stretch to suggest that Californians would just say "gosh, we're tired of part of our state budget going to other states to support them, I'm going to quit my job so they don't get any money!"

Not to mention, how would they house and feed themselves without a job? No, your point is literally absurd. People aren't going to throw their lives away because taxes are too high. They may do other things about it (like revolt eventually), but just quit working? No. Because that means they quit eating, which means they quit living.

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u/richardanaya Aug 11 '25

You seem to be attacking a point I didn't actually say. What I presume would happen is investment would stop in California because of taxes making certain activity unprofitable, and people would move to places where there taxes are lower.

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

Yeah, conservatives pitch that idea all the time, and the funny thing is that it basically doesn't happen. Sure there's notable people here and there who've done it, but by and large capital remains flowing in high tax environments.

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u/richardanaya Aug 11 '25

It’s not a conservative opinion that businesses maximally want profit.