Submitted by Adam Taggart via Peak Prosperity [2],
As we have discussed numerous times in the past, the US' debts and unfunded liabilities far exceed its assets. But making matters worse, the country is suffering from a prolonged failure to save and invest -- both at the personal and national level.
Being over-indebted and under-capitalized is a recipe for hardship as we move into the future, especially if economic growth is going to be harder to come by (which we forecast in the upcoming chapters on net energy). Each year we continue this deficit makes us less able to withstand systemic shocks (a 2008-style financial crisis, an energy shock, the outbreak of war), some number of which lie undoubtedly ahead at some point.
How did we get to this point? Do we really want to pass these problems along to future generations? Questions like these should be front and center in the national debate, but sadly, are not. We need to work to change that -- and in the interim, lead by example at the individual level.
Coming next Friday: Chapter 17: Bubbles [3]
For those who simply don't want to wait until the end of the year to view the entire new series, you can indulge your binge-watching craving by enrolling to PeakProsperity.com [4]. The entire full new series, all 27 chapters of it, is available -- now-- to our enrolled users.
The full suite of chapters in this new Crash Course series can be found at www.peakprosperity.com/crashcourse [5]
And for those who have yet to view it, be sure to watch the 'Accelerated' Crash Course [6] -- the under-1-hour condensation of the new 4.5-hour series. It's a great vehicle for introducing new eyes to this material.
