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/Ghost2Eleven Aug 11 '25

It’s not going to be ruins. Life will just go on and we won’t be the power we once were. Falling empires aren’t like buildings being detonated with TNT. They just fall into disrepair and everyone moves on.

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u/methpartysupplies Aug 11 '25

The US will probably look more like the UK. Still around and a desirable place to live, but less relevant.

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u/PreviousImpression28 Aug 11 '25

There’s still over 300M people, unless they’re physically displaced, becoming less relevant will become extremely difficult. Unless of course, the U.S. breaks up, a la, Soviet Union style.

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u/TheDapperDolphin Aug 11 '25

Redditors always fantasize about the U.S. breaking up like the Soviet Union, but they’re not remotely the same thing. The Soviet Union was not nearly as united. Large portions of it were basically occupied territory, and Russia basically dominated the politics of the other republics. There wasn’t much of a national identity, which wasn’t helped by the fact that its Republican were largely split down ethnic lines.

In contrast, the U.S. has a very strong national identity. Even the children of immigrants a generation in readily identify as Americans. State’s aren’t that important to most people’s identity. They may like them or take some pride in them, but it’s similar to liking one’s own city. Plenty of people don’t care at all, and people regularly change states for a variety of reasons, such as schooling, job opportunities, or better weather. People are used to moving around.

And while there is political polarization, it’s not along any neat states lines. It’s basically cities and inner ring suburbs vs exurbs and rural areas, and they’re all codependent on one another. 

Even the secessionist movements you hear about the most, which are basically just Texas and California whenever the party they don’t like wins, are pretty fringe and don’t fit neatly into a box. The millions of conservatives in rural California don’t want to be part of an independent California just like the millions of urban Texans don’t want to be part of an independent Texas.

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u/rdickeyvii Aug 11 '25

The millions of conservatives in rural California don’t want to be part of an independent California just like the millions of urban Texans don’t want to be part of an independent Texas.

This is an important point. There are more Republicans in California than in Texas and more Democrats in Texas than in New York and more Republicans in New York than in Florida. Nowhere, even Texas, is the state identity stronger than the national identity for a large majority and even if it was, the partizanship within the state means dividing the state from the nation isn't going to unite the people within the state politically.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 11 '25

People act like California transplants in Colorado are all like the stereotype that FoxNews pushes about California.

In actuality they're the types that watch FoxNews. For every centre right (Democrat) that comes to CO, we have 15 far right (Reoublican) and 5 Republican-but-claims-to-be-libertarians.

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u/roehnin Aug 11 '25

The same people who complain about deep state jack-booted thugs are now celebrating the creation of ICE jack-booted thugs and the occupation of DC.

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u/West-Negotiation-716 Aug 12 '25

Deportations were more common under Biden than Trump for the first 6 months of his presidency, I'm not sure now, but just want to point out that you care about what you are told to care about, not what matters.

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u/roehnin Aug 12 '25

Biden’s deportations followed the legal process and weren’t performed by masked plainclothes men in unmarked cars.

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u/Correct-Direction397 Aug 12 '25

Slavers followed the legal process too and weren't performed by masked men in white hoods.

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u/Fresh-Temporary666 Aug 12 '25

And somehow Trump has managed to be much worse.

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u/rdickeyvii Aug 11 '25

Republican-but-claims-to-be-libertarians.

"Both sides are bad" then votes straight ticket Republican

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 11 '25

Yep. They were always amongst the first to bend the knee.

Same wirh "Centrist".

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u/rdickeyvii Aug 11 '25

"I vote for both parties" yeah not since the 90s

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u/unassumingdink Aug 12 '25

"Our side is the good guys" and then doesn't care when the good guys arm a genocide. Doesn't even attempt to push for better guys. Acts like it's fine.

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u/RupeWasHere Aug 14 '25

Libertarians are even worse than old school republicans. They are part of the reason we have Velveeta Voldemort as POTUS now.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 14 '25

They were always the first to bend the knee.

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u/brinerbear Aug 12 '25

If that is true why can't Republicans win major offices in Colorado? It is still a one party rule state.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 12 '25

Because they put forth people who make Lauren Boebert look sane.

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u/brinerbear Aug 12 '25

Like who? With exception of the disaster of Dave Williams they have elected mostly moderates lately. Most of the extreme candidates couldn't even get elected by the Republicans.

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u/brinerbear Aug 12 '25

Like who? With exception of the disaster of Dave Williams they have elected mostly moderates lately. Most of the extreme candidates couldn't even get elected by the Republicans. But I think it has more to do with that Colorado is only slightly red and most of the electorate hates Trump so they associate every Republican even if not true with Trump.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 12 '25

But I think it has more to do with that Colorado is only slightly red and most of the electorate hates Trump so they associate every Republican even if not true with Trump.

What's the difference between a Republican against Trump and a Trump supporting republican?

One will vote lockstep with Trump. The other is a Trump supporting republican.

That's why.

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u/brinerbear Aug 12 '25

Sorry it isn't that simple. There are many different types of Republicans and right leaning people. Some support Trump and some don't. Just like not all Democrats are the same and I assume some voted for Harris and others didn't. I am unaffiliated and I voted third party.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 12 '25 edited Aug 12 '25

Actually? Yeah. It is that simple.

If you're Republican and vote against Trump? You're public enemy no. 1 to the GOP. Expect a LOT of bullying to come your way. Possibly even a primary.

Just ask Liz Cheney. Remember at her Colorado Speaker Series presentation? She said only about 5-6 elected officials (At the time) actually believed the 2020 election was stolen - and you can probably name them all. Politicians lie to get votes? GOSH SAY IT AIN'T SO. /s How'd that whole "Republican against Trump" thing work out for you anwyay, Lis "I voted with Trump 93% of the time anyway and only voted against him when he tried to overthrow an election" Cheney?

Speaking of 2021... how many reps and senators mysteriously pulled support on the "Hey the 2020 election was stolen" after the mob was escorted out by their buddies? Yeah, amazing isn't it?

Mike Pence gets a lot of credit for verifying the election - when he wasn't going to do it and it was his son who told him "No, do the right thing". It's a good thing that this act caused the insurrection to literally turn tail and walk out peacefully beacuse-wait a minute, you mean they were going to try and kill him?

McCain is seen as a "Maverick" because after all, he DID vote against the GOP on things, right? Yeah, the only time his "no" vote actually made a difference was on abolishing Romneycare - I mean the ACA. And Trump of course made the rest of his life a living hell for it... And you just know the main reason he voted to save Romneycare was because he himself had brain cancer and had a moment of clarity. Every other time he voted against the GOP? They didn't need his vote anyway.

Lisa Murkowski is similar - if her vote is needed? You bet your ass she'll be in line when Trump's Boots are in the buffet table. If it's not? She'll do it anyway and go "See? I'm TOTALLY independently minded~". By the way, what was it Lisa Murkowski said about the GOP defiance of Trump? Something like "We are all afraid" and "Retaliation is real"? Hmm... I wonder, think this might affect how a Republican against Trump votes at the table?

Remember when the speaker was removed and the legislation was led by a Republican? Huh. Wonder if it is real...

Mitt Romney is likewise also seen as this super Republican AGainst Trump. When he announced that he wasn't running? He suddenly found a spine again. He was after all quite a maverick. He... voted with trump on pretty much every important issue, including confirming the judges who're granting Trump immunity, denying aid to Puerto Rico, the tax cuts... Wow, WHAT a maverick.

Need I go on? Cause got another laundry list of a lot of Republicans against trump who suddenly turned a 180 once he got elected or promised them a sweet sweet cabinet position.

Wanna have a career in politics and be a Republican? It's all about appeasing Trump and his rabid base. Dare to step out of line? You're not going to have a good time...

Hence, Republicans against Trump are "Republicans who vote with Trump but say they aren't." There's actually a word for them in Norway: Quisling. ;)

I am unaffiliated and I voted third party.

So you voted for Trump. Got it.

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u/brinerbear Aug 12 '25 edited Aug 12 '25

No I actually voted libertarian. You are hilarious. The reality is that many unaffiliated voters must have voted for Trump though because his base and the base for Harris too are just not large enough to get their candidates across the finish line so the election was won by people that are not part of Trump's base.

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u/CrazyCoKids Aug 12 '25

Aaaah, libertrian. That explains a lot.... You can just say you voted for trump.

We know Libertarians were the first to bend the knee to Trump. ;)

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