Your thoughts and theories on this.

Out of the many hypothetical questions I have been asked, this is by far my favorite: What would happen to the world if the USA, and every citizen of the country, suddenly vanished overnight. Either alien abduction or Jesus' second coming, it doesn't matter. USA is just gone. Poof. How would it effect the world, and what would the long term effects be?

Would the world be a better place? Which country would take up the mantel of wealthiest (excuse our recession right now) and what would they do that America didn't? I know this is a weird question but I've only asked other Americans this question and the responses I usually get are "The world would end without us!" which is pretty weak. So, please feel free to discuss and give me your views!

Type 2 diabetes would disappear.

The world would be a socialist paradise.

a signifigant population of the world suddenly begins masturbating furioiusly

metaphorically

Depends thoroughly on your definition of better.

If you're assuming that the lack of the United States would bring about peace, you are mistaken. First, there would be both an economic and military power vacuum that would send everything scrambling. China would have hands-down military supremacy, but would probably face vast economic set-backs. Countries in the Middle East and a handful of other countries would likely immediately declare war on their neighbors (North Korea-South Korea, India-Pakistan I'm looking at you.) This isn't to say that the US is the only thing keeping them from declaring war now, but rather that such a gigantic shake-up would leave the other powers capable of preventing such actions unable or unwilling to get involved.

The majority of the world's economies would enter severe recessions and even in developed nations I think you would find property rights severely threatened. You are basically describing a Nuclear Holocaust-type event, except rather than retaliatory missiles, those left remaining are going to struggle to assume the military power and economic strength once held by the US.

Within 100 years I think you would find either widespread socialism or a Sino-Indian Cold War.

cheap real estate

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Originally Posted by Atmosfear

Depends thoroughly on your definition of better.

If you're assuming that the lack of the United States would bring about peace, you are mistaken. First, there would be both an economic and military power vacuum that would send everything scrambling. China would have hands-down military supremacy, but would probably face vast economic set-backs. Countries in the Middle East and a handful of other countries would likely immediately declare war on their neighbors (North Korea-South Korea, India-Pakistan I'm looking at you.) This isn't to say that the US is the only thing keeping them from declaring war now, but rather that such a gigantic shake-up would leave the other powers capable of preventing such actions unable or unwilling to get involved.

The majority of the world's economies would enter severe recessions and even in developed nations I think you would find property rights severely threatened. You are basically describing a Nuclear Holocaust-type event, except rather than retaliatory missiles, those left remaining are going to struggle to assume the military power and economic strength once held by the US.

Within 100 years I think you would find either widespread socialism or a Sino-Indian Cold War.

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Since you've put some thought into this, I have a follow up question: Without American being the super consumer that supports many other countries, what would happen to the global economy?

muslim extremists would think it was the work of allah and would gain more credence

some protestant christian fundamentalists would think it was the rapture and that the american religious right was correct in believing that america was chosen by God

some cross-border tensions would flare up into all-out wars

the un would be re-established in geneva, and that and the world court would have lost its sometimes greatest opponent.

russia would establish its hegemony in central asia/the eastern most part of eastern europe with essentially no opposition

china's economy would go down the crapper as it lost the major market for its goods before sufficiently developing its domestic market

europe would be all like "i sure miss those blokes now that they're gone i do"

Riots in China.

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Originally Posted by no_brains_no_worries

Since you've put some thought into this, I have a follow up question: Without American being the super consumer that supports many other countries, what would happen to the global economy?

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First of all you have to look at the currency markets which would obviously be turned upside down. This would effectively freeze international trade.

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Originally Posted by sycld

the un would be re-established in geneva, and that and the world court would have lost its sometimes greatest opponent.

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And also the majority of its funding, muscle, and goodwill.

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Originally Posted by Atmosfear

And also the majority of its funding, muscle, and goodwill.

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muscle maybe, funding definitely.

for the un at least and not the world court, of course...

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Originally Posted by Atmosfear

and goodwill.

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You have way too much faith in the "good will" (lol) of the politicians of your country

Interesting question:

I can tell you one thing, many of the poor world wide would be very depressed to hear that the millions that was spread out in foreign aid would not be reaching them.

And gawd, don't get me started on the Israeli-Palestine, Pakistan-India conflict.

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Originally Posted by Kozzle

You have way too much faith in the "good will" (lol) of the politicians of your country

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The UN exists, has legitimacy, has funding, has influence, and has power solely because the US decided it did. Strictly speaking, NATO is still the most influential international treaty because its member nations strictly obey and support it. The UN is simply a concession of the world's superpowers to let developing nations sleep at night. Any time a nation's individual interests conflict with the UN's, the UN is overruled. The world's goodwill toward the UN is a direct testament to the military strength of the US and, to a lesser extent, NATO, and the willingness of the US to use its military with or without UN approval.

If you don't believe the UN is a powerless entity, take a look at its body of work regarding nuclear proliferation or weapons of mass destruction. Despite confirmed used of mustard gas in Iraq, the UN failed to take action against Saddam Hussein. Despite confirmation of North Korean, Iranian, and Indian nuclear weapons programs, the UN has done nothing. UN weapons inspection is a joke and their jurisdiction is limited to the areas permitted by the sovereign nations they enter.

The world can take the UN and shove it up its ass; aside from providing voluntary mediation and safe haven for world leaders to meet, it's endowments and contributions to the world will soon be less than the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's.

(We really need AI back)

But also, which nation would have the strength, wealth, and power to take America's place as the front runner of nations (short term/long term). Which would be the deciding factors in this? Military might or trade? Could any other nation gain the resources to fill the role of super consumer that had been the American people?

India

I think China is further along both in terms of protecting property rights and military strength than India.

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Originally Posted by no_brains_no_worries

(We really need AI back)

But also, which nation would have the strength, wealth, and power to take America's place as the front runner of nations (short term/long term). Which would be the deciding factors in this? Military might or trade? Could any other nation gain the resources to fill the role of super consumer that had been the American people?

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China would definitely take over but only due to military might. Like Atmosfear said, they are further along than India is. However, trade may not matter in the short term seeing as how the disappearance of the US would definitely freeze international trade as already mentioned. In the long term, China could come out of the stump and take over if they were able to develop their domestic market or make use of multiple consumer markets that could equal the US or at least come close to our consumer market which I doubt would happen.

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Originally Posted by no_brains_no_worries

every citizen of the country, suddenly vanished overnight

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I don't think people are completely considering what would happen. First off, the US would get raided by Mexico and Canada and both would probably take large portions of our land. I imagine they would also probably start using our economy with their own laws etc.

To be honest, it could definitely start a war because I'm sure than more than just those countries would be fighting for land (remember, already developed land because the people are the only thing missing).

My first thought regarding China was that they'd take over as world power, but after thinking about it, we owe them a very large bill. Meaning, they're the main entity that we owe our debt to. They keep funding us. If all that debt was all of the sudden known to never be paid back, there would certainly be some power lost in their hands.

I think we'd also see some strange uprising in some small countries where we have a lot of private money in, particularly the Cayman Islands. Banks that were out of the states that were previously funded primarily by citizens of the US would all of the sudden be very wealthy.

I'd move to Canada..

Or am I gone for good?

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Originally Posted by Pepè Silvia

I'd move to Canada..

Or am I gone for good?

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Um, I was kinda aiming for something bigger then just the American citizen. So poof, you'rer just gone for good. What are the effects of America's disappearance and how does the world strive on Pepe Silvia-less?

You're so going to hand in a paper with copypasta from this thread, aren't you.

oh he totally is.

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Originally Posted by solecistic

You're so going to hand in a paper with copypasta from this thread, aren't you.

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Lol not really. I was just curious but I might remember this thread for a future if such an assignment appeared.

If Jesus came back, the sinners would still be here...Thus everyone on this board except me, Dj, and Mr. E would still be around.

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Originally Posted by Pepsi

If Jesus came back, the sinners would still be here...Thus everyone on this board except me, Dj, and Mr. E would still be around.

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Yeah but let's be realistic, we all know this is going to happen as the result of alien abduction. In which case, the most important question is, what sweet drugs will the aliens have for the Americans to try out and party with?

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Originally Posted by Pepsi

If Jesus came back, the sinners would still be here...Thus everyone on this board except me, Dj, and Mr. E would still be around.

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what makes you so sure they aren't sinners?

also i can't imagine you don't touch your peepee at night.

Pakistan and India and both Test Cricket playing nations, they'll never go to war.

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Originally Posted by sycld

what makes you so sure they aren't sinners?

also i can't imagine you don't touch your peepee at night.

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Fine, I'll elaborate.

Sinners that haven't repented.

If the United States vanished the world would be fucking boring.

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Originally Posted by Pepsi

Fine, I'll elaborate.

Sinners that haven't repented.

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so do you repent every night while sopping up your fluids after you've finished touching your pee pee?

lol "pee pee"

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Originally Posted by sycld

so do you repent every night while sopping up your fluids after you've finished touching your pee pee?

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:rolleyes:

No need. You swallow them for me.