Power of 10 Question
 

I admit I watched power of 10 today. Drew Carey bashing aside, they asked a question which I thought received an interesting response. According to the show, 74% of Americans think that America will still be around in 100 years. Keep in mind this is a telephone interview question posed to random people (or so they say). I thought this percentage would be much higher.

I confess I have really never given much thought of the stability and solvency (if that's the right word) of the US before I saw that question on TV. Living in the US for all my life, I have an admittedly biased opinion that America is one of the most stable countries in the world. Therefore, I really never think about it. Is my thinking clouded?

Maybe this should be in a different forum, but who here thinks that US is doomed to fail in the next 100 years, due to either its own fault or someone else's? Anyone have anything else to add?

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

Thought it was 74%. However, my dad actually made some interesting points based on immigration, rapid industrial changes, demographics differences over the last 100 years (well to me at least). I guess my question would be in what form do I see the US existing. I do feel that some areas may eventually try to leave the union, but I don't see it being nearly like what happened to the USSR.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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Thought it was 74%.

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I think you're right about 74%, I changed the OP. Thanks.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

ridiculous.
i watched it too and when he picked 83-93 i thought he was too low

he was dumb to risk his 100k on this retarted question though

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

Lay me 3:1 and I'll gladly take the 'still around in 100 years'

Short of a nuclear war I don't see any way for the US to dissolve in that time period.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

The odds of any stable economy and democratic "western" state collapsing within a century being 3-1 is just so stupid it makes my head spin. Not even nuclear war would destroy one of those nations.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

You don't think in 50 years when the Chinese have consumed all the world's resources western nations will still be going strong?

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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You don't think in 50 years when the Chinese have consumed all the world's resources western nations will still be going strong?

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strong? maybe not

gone completely? highly doubt it

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

the world's oldest democracy is only 231 years old... 226 if you remember that we weren't really independent in 1776. No true democracy has collapsed (Vietnam, Afr republics).

(just thought I'd share)

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

OP,
I think you need to consider that some percentage of the people who responded were probably fundamentalist christians who believed that the apocalypse would occur within the next 100 years, this bringing about the non-existence of the U.S. as a side effect.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

I'd like to watch this show. From the sound of it some of these answers are way off what I'd expect.
This was obviously not a question that was actually polled, but rather a political statement by the producers:

Want to invest in America? Think it'll be around forever? LOL! This guy just lost $100k because he thinks that, you're next.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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No true democracy has collapsed

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Can you elaborate? Does this mean ever? Or as of yet?

I'm as pessimistic about America's future, but even I don't see it's complete break-up taking place within the next hundred years. I think historical precedent tells us it will happen, but I think it will be (a bit) more gradual.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

I couldn't believe it was that low.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

OP,

I guessed 86-96. I was shocked this answer was so low.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

[ QUOTE ]
OP,
I think you need to consider that some percentage of the people who responded were probably fundamentalist christians who believed that the apocalypse would occur within the next 100 years, this bringing about the non-existence of the U.S. as a side effect.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is one of the best explanations so far. I doubt it accounts for 26% of the US, but still a very good explanation of why it would be so low.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

Quite a few Empires thought they would be around forever...

-ZEN

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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No true democracy has collapsed

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Because there never has been a true democracy.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

On a lighter note OP, Dids thanks you for watching.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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Quite a few Empires thought they would be around forever...


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Very cool.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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No true democracy has collapsed

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Because there never has been a true democracy.

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Not true:


http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2803/truedemvm9.jpg

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

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Quite a few Empires thought they would be around forever...

-ZEN

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Awesome website. Thanks for the link.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

i read something that said basically that in all polls of the public, you have to factor in something like a 27% crazy mofo factor. like, if you ask the public what chance do you think there is that tomorrow a giant purple bunny will come and cause the beginning of the end times by ramming the empire state building up the pope's butt, 27% of them would be like "oh, yea, that's exactly what i think."

so the message is if you're on one of these game shows and think "omg how can everyone not agree with that?" it's because only like 73% of people can agree on anything because the other 27% are totally batpoop insane.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
OP,
I think you need to consider that some percentage of the people who responded were probably fundamentalist christians who believed that the apocalypse would occur within the next 100 years, this bringing about the non-existence of the U.S. as a side effect.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is one of the best explanations so far. I doubt it accounts for 26% of the US, but still a very good explanation of why it would be so low.

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When I was watching my friend and I discussed this and still I was thinking no way would it be under 80%.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

The US as we know it right now will not be around in 100 years. You could even change that number to 50. Sure we would still be 50 states, with the same flag and whatnot, but things will be very different. Do some independent research on the North American Union and the Amero.

Re: Power of 10 Question
 

While Christian millennialists probably accounted for most of the 26%, it's not really that crazy to think that the U.S. won't be around in 100 years. The technological singularity will probably occur within 50. In 100, all nations could be gone, with everyone on earth existing solely as a computer simulation on a silicon chip somewhere. I realize that sounds even crazier than the rapture, but the rate of technological progress is so astounding that I think it's very foolish to expect life in 100 years to look anything at all like it does now.