unbridled free-market radicalism has thoroughly deindustrialized the western countries in the fourth quarter of the 20th century, climate hysteria continued the destruction in the first quarter of the 21st. only the high-value links of the supply chains have survived in the west, and they're in a very vulnerable state. any prolonged disruption of the sea trade lanes can strangle them to death, because it has become impossible to source materials and basic components locally. it's 2025 now, china has the best hydro and mining engineers, russia the best metallurgists and e-technicians. the west can't even produce simple cables and switches. i've been to west virginia in 2022. beautiful landscapes, but the towns are post-industrial hellholes. many have lost more than half their population in the past few decades, anyone who had money, skills or talents moved away, only the dirty rest remains. unemployment is normal, something between 30 and 50 percent of the people has mental issues, usually drug-related. the children grow up without a future. that region dreams of tourist money too. it's the only hope it has left. most of the towns aren't going to make it.
Germany