The End of the USA?

A now infamous article by a Russian professor forecast the USA breaking up into various territories, each falling under the influence of outside powers such as China, The EU and (of course) the Russian Federation. Whilst this sounds like the wishful thinking of a KGB agent, could something along similar lines actually take place? The theory held that, faced by the increasing demands of the growing Federal government, and in a time of sudden economic slump, states would simply refuse to keep funding the entire enterprise, effectively succeeding.

Seeing the dire economic state of California and the tremendous cost of the current wars in Iraq (as yet unfinished, in terms of troops finally being withdrawn) and the seeming quagmire in Afghanistan, one wonders if some kind of radical change is possible- though the idea of America losing it's influence overnight as a country is pretty far-fetched. What I think is more likely is a streamlined rearrangement, perhaps into some kind of 'American Federation', including other entities that are already economically and even culturally pretty much inseparable- namely, Canada and Mexico. Whilst there might be a few elements against this, if enough benefits were available, in the long run it could proceed pretty smoothly.

Along with the proposed 'greening' of the once lavishly wasteful country, what we'd end up with would be in some ways more localised, but in many ways a better entity to influence the world. Put simply, if everywhere tried to be like the States the way there are now, it would be a prescription for environmental disaster far worse than what we have now. Countries lead by example, not preaching. American influence being almost fundamental, change there is likely to spread.

So, ironically, the USA may only come of age and achieve it's full influence in such a radically different form. You cannot, after all, put 'new wine in old bottles'. If this does happen, no doubt many will lament the passing of the country that once was. Yet others will instead focus on the rebirth. Only time will tell... more time than I have in my life, for sure.