I know you were seeking answers or opinions, but ....
what are the origins of inequality and why is it increasing?
*presumably all systems generate some level of inequality, something that only varies in magnitude, at times direction,and varies considerably with regards to individual mobility within the column of inequality. the current dominant global system concentrates capital and decision making in the hands of few, and at times is balanced by the rest organizing and either through government or guilds extracting their piece of the pie. The role of both government and guilds in representing the rest to extract a piece of the pie (and they do make the pie) has diminished. It will rebound, but it seems globalization and global inequality combined with reasonably safe seas and generally open trade has allowed the few to play guilds and governments off against one another. I suspect at some point that communication with the help of the trust matrix will re-foster a sense of identity in the rest, and they will then once again reassert influence.
why did the us borrow after the financial crisis and was it a good idea?
*generally, as the consumer of last resort, it has worked in the past, and the holders of various debt instruments saw fit to transfer their holdings (bad holdings) to government. A coincidence of interest between the few and the indebted.
how did alternative responses fare - did the countries that adopted austerity policies do any better? *poorly, generally seems to work that way.
how is the us going to operate in a world it doesn't dominate? is it developing the friendships it will need?
*very difficult question, what is the "US"?
why does so much of the islamic world seem to hate the us and is this fixable?
*I believe it will likely calm down some. certainly the perception of sovereignty and autonomy were largely trampled in the 20th century, but generally folks operate in their own self-interests, and as the US is capable of benevolence (in its own self-interests), the rate at which animosity wanes will likely be determined by whether self-interests more often align than not. That will be determined in large part by who is calling the shots. it is important that Obama and folks like him win in US elections.
what is happening with election funding and what should be done about it?
* it is a mess, but seems to have reached a near saturating point versus time. That is, you can only buy all of the seconds in a day, a day represents a finite amount of purchasable time.
this election conversation is a side-show to the major issues.
*progressive thought in the US is far from dead, it took a massive electoral thumping in 2010 (seriously, Russ Feingold was booted for that Johnson dude, positively incomprehensible).
But, demographics are demographics. The boom and boom-older folks will die, they are being replaced by a rather distinct demographic, and while that may simply give way to corruption and nepotism as it does in Mexico, it seems almost inevitable at some level that US politics will eventually migrate to a more parliamentary system of multiparty proportional representation with the quirky bit of a non-legislative-office holder layered on top with considerable executive powers.
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