With all of the recent troubles in Iraq, etc. I've heard alot of talk that the US is in real trouble. I do note though that they seem to still be in economic control of world affairs. Do you think that the US is in a REAL decline or are people confusing current events with the long term outlook for the US economic dominance???
2006-11-11 08:38:04 · 6 answers · asked by Terry Z 1 in Social Science ➔ Economics
I recently moved to the nation's capital and living here has just reinforced my perception that we are indeed living in the twilight days of the American Empire and that we shall fall like Rome.
Our government is corrupt, beholden to special interest groups and clings to dogma and hubris rather than embracing reality. The scandalous treatment of our military is a fine example. Troops are sent to war without the basics. Again and again on the news we hear that armor and ammunition runs low in Iraq. When they return, the VA declines or scales back benefits, betraying the soldiers, fostering discontent and making the military a poor career choice for our citizens. This is one of the primary responsibilities of our government, the maintenance of a standing army to keep us safe, and our government can't find the money for them. But finding money to subsidize the oil companies is no problem. No problem at all.
Our people are complacent and ignorant. Most people don't care what happens in the world as long as they have their SUV, wide screen TV and the latest CD from the pop star of the moment. Who cares if the furniture was made in a sweat-shop that enslaves children in Malaysia? Yo, I got me my leather recliner and my Snoop Dawg on the TV!
In the meantime, the populations we exploit to have this lifestyle are impoverished and turn to crazed religious fundamentalists who promise them a better world if they will attack us. The masses are turning to Al Queda as an alternative to the unfulfilled promises of a better life that the US makes them. After all, do they have a better life now that there is an economic development zone in their country? No, only the government officials have a better life, the workers are still poor, uneducated and desperate. But their televisions show them how we live every day. They see how good we have it. The goods they make are sold at Wal Mart and we can have a houseful of disposable things. They can't even afford to buy what they make.
The parallels to Ancient Rome are undeniable. The military is overextended and underfunded, the government is corrupt and wasteful, the people are enjoying their bread and circuses and care about nothing else, and the provinces that supply our empire are overspent and impoverished. The barbarians sacked Rome and there was nothing they could do to prevent it. Let us hope we shall have a more merciful fate than to be sacked by moden barbarian hordes.
2006-11-11 09:04:19 · answer #1 · answered by Celtic Rebel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in the short or long term.
In the 1960s we thought the US would be beaten by the USSR (wrong)
In the 1970s we thought the US would be beaten by the Germans (wrong)
In the 1980s we thought the US would be beaten by the Japanese (wrong)
In the 1990s we thought the US would be beaten by the South Koreans (wrong)
The best measure of a country's future is its demography. The US has a positive population increase, while Europe and China are facing a looming aged population.
Younger people are more innovative, mobile, flexible and productive. They serve in the military, staff production lines and make creative discoveries.
Furthermore, it is interesting that American people complain about Mexicans coming to *WORK* in the US. In Europe youthful migrants are far less likely to end up on the welfare rolls, and are less happy to assimilate. And in the affluent parts of Asia there is zip immigration, little innovation and an even lower birthrate than the US or North Europe.
2006-11-11 17:14:35 · answer #2 · answered by Mardy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
China could surpass the USA soon, with respect to world economic clout. But the USA now has its best chance in years to regain the respect of the world -- if only the Democrats weild their new powers properly and sensibly.
2006-11-11 09:53:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will end up like Britain, USSR, France, Netherland, Japan (pre-Meiji), China (the times before the 'last emperor'), and so on.
As usual, old tools will be thrown away... to be recycled as new tools, who will be recycled again as they got old again. The USA is no exception.
As for "Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
Well, prisoners can learn enough from their history to not get caught again when doing criminal activities, or doomed to be caught again when they don't learn enough on how not to get caught.
Also people will kept repeating history if they learned the historical information from the ones who caused those historical events in the first place.
My suggestion? History, just plain ignore it.
2006-11-12 03:44:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US is in the beginning of decline as a world power. It will fall from it's place of world dominance just as all powers before it has. And for the same reasons. "Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
2006-11-11 08:43:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Downfall ??
No...I don't think so...
2006-11-11 08:44:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋