While many conservatives like myself have been screaming about the federal government’s growth, spending and deficits, the outcome associated with these problems haven’t necessarily manifested themselves in a significant way. Well, that might all be changing.
As we look forward, we see inflation hitting heights not seen since the 1970s/1980s, and we see some of the world pushing back on the US Dollar hegemony. As the demand for dollars around the world slow with no contraction of the supply of dollars, you can expect the USD’s value to decline. This makes everything more expensive given we no longer manufacture things in the U.S. With the prices of goods costing more and more, you would expect demand to go down. When the demand for your currency goes down, the value of your currency goes down. Reduced demand for goods will lead to layoffs (i.e. higher unemployment). All of this means stagflation.
All of this pricing pressure will likely push the Fed to increase rates in order to stimulate demand for USD and stabilize prices. However, this will mean less and less is available for the bailouts and benefits that governments spread during such times which means a more disgruntled population and possibility of civil unrest.
Once this starts, I think it will unfold pretty quickly. The government required shutdowns due to COVID have us in a very precarious position. Will it all come crashing down? Don’t know. However, you need to prepare for some hard times ahead if I’m reading the tea leaves correctly.