defaulting on its debts

even when the best thing for two parties to do is to cooperate, the logical thing for each to do is to kill the other first.

world’s best practices,

having a reserve currency is one of the greatest powers a country can have because it gives the country enormous buying power and geopolitical power.

Self-interest, especially self-survival, is the most powerful motivator for most people,

20. Whether There Are Win-Win Relationships or Lose-Lose Relationships.

revolutions and wars that have caused changes in the domestic and world orders.

the biggest risk in the long run is the “currency value of money” risk,

When lots of these conditions are in place (greater than 80 percent) there is around a 1-in-3 chance of a civil war or revolution—so not very probable but still too probable for comfort. The US is in the 60–80 percent bucket today.