This is what the implications could be of the financial crisis according to Victor Davis Hanson:

"The natural order of the world is chaos, not calm. Like it or not, for over a half-century the United States alone restrained nuclear bullies, kept the sea lanes free from outlaws and corralled rogue nations. America alone could provide that deterrence because we produced a fourth of the world's goods and services, and became the richest country in the history of civilization. But the bill for years of massive borrowing for oil, for imported consumer goods and for speculation has now has finally come due on Wall Street -- and for the rest of us as well. Should that heart of American financial power in New York falter -- or even appear to falter -- then eventually the sinews of the American military will likewise slacken. And then things could get ugly -- real fast."

Indeed, without Pax Americana, what happens next.  Do we think a chaotic world where any individual can be superempowered by the Internet and modern technology will be safe?  We may soon find out whether man preferes "freedom" or "order."