The thing that threatens the integrity and stability of nations far more than anything else is irresponsible monetary policy. When oil starts being traded in currencies other than the dollar (which will happen in the near future) and foreign central banks weed some dollars out of their currency reserves things will get tricky. And thats just the tip of the iceberg. A detor nation with a service based economy and a weak, slightly unstable currency doesn't add up to a bright future. Everything I've read suggests the current path can only be maintained as long as foreign creditors are willing to loan us money. And not just to the fed. government but by buying US consumer debt. No one is looking forward to it but the party's gotta end sometime. It won't be the end of the US or anything even close, just a gradual tightening of US fiscal policy and a global shift in economic influence away from the US. Just my 2c.