Quote from the1:
We could chug along for another 50 or so years. Rome and Great Britain didn't collapse in a year. It took many decades in both cases. The US has definitely peaked and a downward trend has begun but it will take some time....
I would somewhat disagree. If you look at Empires from Persia to Greece/Macedonia to Rome... Spain, France, Britain, US, USSR you notice one thing.
They all (on average) lasted less than the previous empire. Due to technology and population growth which requires resources, each subsequent empire has a shorter lifespan.
The US's biggest concerns right now, as an empire and country are 1) Cheap and consistent/secure supply of Oil and 3) Cheap and consistent supply of debt financing.
Any of the two above change dramatically, and all hell breaks loose. No other country on earth consumes debt and oil like we do... not remotely.