This is what the end of the US empire looks like. Flailing about globally with no positive results anywhere, other than to double the resolve of both their enemies and supposed allies.  $20 trillion in debt, 10x more than that in unfunded liabilities (like social security, medicare, public pensions), many decades of ever increasing trade deficits. No wonder the Bushes bought a huge ranch in Paraguay and others are buying property in places like New Zealand.

The only relevant question is does all it end with a bang or a wimper.