What's powering Bernie Sanders, besides ideology, is the same discontent that boosted Trump. The elites are routed. The bailout that began in 2008 is turning toxic. If China crashes who knows what can happen?
The problem with positing an American collapse is that every great power rival is likely to fall, in the event, much faster. The effect of current developments will be to force everyone to sober up about the deficit, open borders and the size of govt.
Sanders is a reminder there must be a post populist era. The 20th century role of govt can no longer be sustained, not even or most especially by "Democratic socialists" which is about as viable as "Democratic bankruptcy".
The price for burying Wall Street excess is burying socialism too. They are the jaws of the vise from which the future must escape.
