Main US Threat Not Terrorists, But Fiscal Irresponsibility.
 

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I'd like to look at the above information on the individual level rather than the nation-state level.

I just spoke with my finance professor about past results not dictating future returns. He said that businesses can be very volatile, but as a group, they can have a stable trajectory.

I didn't bring up government, though my class assumes US treasury bills to be "risk-free." In The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order Sam Huntington predicts the decline of the West and along with it the US. An assumption that the US will always pay its debts could prove costly.

1. Are US operations, as they lie currently stand, sustainable? Will the government overcome upcoming problems? If so, how?
2. How could you protect yourself from possible upcoming US financial trouble?
3. How would this trouble affect you and where you live?
4. If the stock market has returned 10% the last fifty years, is it safe to assume comparable returns in the future?

Well... I'm not really sure what you're asking but here's my $.02 on the subject.

1.) No, current US operations aren't sustainable. Currently, the US has a savings rate of somewhere around -1% and, as a result, relies heavily on overseas investors to finance it's operations. This can only continue for as long as the savings rate in other countries remains high. Of course, trends show that the savings rate in foreign countries are gradually decreasing per year (Especially in Japan, one of the biggest investors into the US), meaning that sooner or later they'll no longer be able to finance the US' operations. If the US is no longer seen as a profitable investment, then other countries will begin to call in their debts and that'll not only screw over the US market, but every country who relies on the dollar to remain strong in comparison to their currency (As an interesting side note, I believe China has about $10 billion worth of US government issued bonds). There's little to nothing the government can do about it (They can do like Australia and force households to save a part of their yearly income, but that's not likely to happen). US consumer savings have to increase for there to be any type of hope for the future.

Edit: Also, on the issue of medicare... Just socialize it (Like Canada). The problem is that most big businesses won't like that >_<

2.) Save more and spend less.

3.) I'm not really sure... If I had to guess I'd say that the US would switch from being a major importer to being an exporter specializing in cheap, domestic labor (Something like China currently). Though, that's probably a bit drastic.

4.) No, because the stock market is unpredictable.

1. No, the government is exactly as fiscally short sighted as the majority of its citizens.
2. Learn tangible survival skills, like how to work on a farm or fix machinery.
3. I live in a city; at the bare minimum i predict increasing crime and decreasing quality of life. At worst, widespread panic, disease and starvation.
4. No, once the price of oil inevitably starts rising the stock market will implode.

Totally random:

The upcoming U.S. financial trouble seems to base 1-4.
1. Probably not.
2. Buy gold.
3. (Cannibalism and grave-robbing?)
4. heh