Hacker News Reader

Comment by neilv | Hacker News Reader

What I know from news articles is that some of them openly "escort", like some traditional porn stars did more quietly. The fame on the screen can be brand-building for the even more lucrative in-person work.

As one said in a quote, regarding AI threat and crumbling economies: "The oldest profession will be the last profession."

If some of them want to move to the US right now, from currently healthier countries, one reason may be that social inequality means there are many deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for a weekend experience.

View on HN

The decline of the US means that there will be increasingly fewer deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for anything.

Those who come to the US with enough money on the bank will have access to a lifestyle and experiences that are becoming more and more exclusive, which makes for great content for the peasant class to consume on their phones.

> The decline of the US means that there will be increasingly fewer deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for anything.

Those at the top are doing very well, it's those without access to capital who are struggling. America in decline looks like a bifurcated economy where low-paying jobs catering to the desires of the wealthy take up an increasingly large share of the economy. You can decide for yourself to what extent this is already happening.

A world war and a socialist-minded president could correct that for a good couple of decades but this time the US is going to be on the wrong side of history.

As an outsider, it's interesting to watch Nero play the fiddle while the rest of the world sanctions the US (except India and the Middle East and Taiwan). I think this is how the average Roman felt during Honorius' reign.

> A world war and a socialist-minded president could correct that for a good couple of decades

A world war meaning... the death of many / most Americans? That's quite the fantasy there.

US invading Greenland means all US troops in Europe risk getting captured/foxholed in their own military bases. That's 65k permanent staff and 20-35k on rotation. Or 10% of the US military, simply turning PoW (and a huge bargaining chip so early in the conflict).

It will also signal to the world that America is no longer world police, which means the Middle East, Japan and Taiwan will once again come under threat. The Middle East already foresaw this, which is why Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are building a regional nuclear-enabled alliance, with open invitation to the other oil economies. Taiwan is most likely to get caught with their pants down, given the lack of US military support.

Interestingly, with the exist of the US from NATO, the largest military in NATO will be Turkey's, that country that Europe has long considered the unwanted bastard child.

That's fantasy. I seriously doubt Trump will invade Greenland, but even if so, there will be zero consequences for U.S. forces in Europe. Europe's armed forces are not capable of taking on U.S. troops in Europe.

Denmark already came off the meeting with Vance, openly stating that the US wants Greenland, and are prepared to invade it if needed.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greenland-tr...

Europe only needs to encircle and starve them, not fight them.

> Europe only needs to encircle and starve them, not fight them.

With what navy and air force?

Conversely -- declining countries usually have a lot of deep-pocketed customers, and mind less of whether their crimes go public. They also tend to care less of spending money in wasteful ways, as those money were easily earned.

I wouldn't prophesize the 'decline' of the US, but if you're sufficiently wealthy, the kind of services and lifestyle options (like living in a luxury apartment overlooking the sea, or decent medical care), is available in a lot of places nowadays.

Well it's already declining. Remove the AI and tech industry and the US economy is in literal decline. Invading Greenland ensures NATO is crippled, Taiwan is left undefended and China finds a great excuse to impose sanctions on the US as part of a coordinated effort. That's a huge chunk of the semiconductor manufacturing lifecycle that becomes inaccessible to the US.

USA is doing pretty well and far from decline not withstanding local minimas they might hit.

When economic outlook is bad, it is generally the middle class and lower class that gets hit the hardest and women in these categories end up joining sin professions. Vegas always sees a big boom in 21 year olds in strip clubs when economy is bad.

Right now strip clubs are full of 35+ women why ? All the young ones are on OF. It is safer and much cleaner way of making money

Healthier countries? As in better physical health?

I believe they are implying that the US itself isn't in a healthy state. Economic disparity mostly, but also politically, socially, and likely physically. I think many would agree.

As in:

- Life expectancy at birth is lower than nearly all other high-income countries

- Preventable and treatable mortality rates are well above the OECD average

- Adult obesity rate is the highest among peer nations

- Infant mortality rate is worse than most developed countries

- Maternal mortality rate is dramatically higher than other wealthy nations

- Suicide rate exceeds the OECD average

- Drug overdose death rate is the highest in the developed world

- Prevalence of multiple chronic diseases is unusually high

- Physical inactivity rates exceed those of peer countries

- Healthcare spending per capita is the highest globally while outcomes lag peers

Reply on news.ycombinator.com