Have another beer… and toast the American Decline

I have been reading and blogging a lot about the American Decline. I have also worked in the past with very good and serious Scenario Planners. Trolling Salon I got to this really seminal post from Alfred McCoy at Tom’s Dispatch. I won’t post excerpts here tonight. I need to digest it and think. There are several points I need to think about:

1. Alfred has given us great starting point scenarios for the American Decline. What’s missing? What needs to be added?
2. Is there a gradual slope or a tipping point? Is there an Black Swan Event?
3. How do the politics of the day exacerbate or mitigate the scenarios? What is the prudent course?

I am really disturbed by this and need to think about it as deeply as I can.