Is USAs status as a superpower becoming deteriorated?

Answer 1

Absolutely. We have had 26 years of "Reaganonmics", which has gutted our middle class. Families are working 2-3 jobs to make the same amount per year (adjusted for inflation) as one used to pull in 30 years ago. Then nobody seems to figure out why they can't raise their kids anymore -- they're shipped off to day care.

In addition, we've seen the "government is evil" mantra repeated time and again, all the while our schools are defunded and our infrastructure crumbles. The insane trade policies brought on us by George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush have seen jobs flying out of the country by the millions. The jobs that are created by that are service-oriented, menial jobs that are being competed for by cheap immigrant labor (often illegal).

In addition, defense spending has exploded, which is a major problem. When you build roads, bridges, power stations, etc. with tax money, you get a return on that investment because it generates more tax revenue. However, when you spend money on a bomb, missile, etc. there is a major problem: it is used once, and then BOOM, destroyed. The wealth that it represented is lost forever, never to be recovered and stimulate further economic growth. In other words, when you spend money on military hardware, you're throwing it away permanently. You have to find an acceptable percentage of your budgeting that can be completely sacrificed. As it stands, we're way above the nominal threshold.

This is how we brought Russia to its knees: since it did not invest in adequate infrastructure to further stimulate its economic activity, the disproportionate defense spending bankrupted it. That's also where we are headed. We are not generating sufficient tax growth from infrastructure investments to adequately fund the government. On top of that, the debt load is becoming a major factor in future spending: indeed, this President alone is saddling us with $120B/yr payments in interest alone -- principal notwithstanding. Because of conservative economics, we've gone from the #1 lender nation to the #1 debtor nation.

The good news is, it's not too late to turn this around. Unfortunately, it will require some major changes in attitudes that frankly aren't going to be popular until we hit another Great Depression, which is the inevitable outcome of the course we are on.

Answer 2

We have a lot of competition now. We are still a super power & the world knows it; but some nations are catching up & just might try to confront us in the near future. China for one.
Through out the history of China they have never been a country that was aggressive. But coupled with it's growing population & need of land, that could change, sooner than we like to think. China has always like to keep a buffer between it's self & other nations. A protective measure to insure that other nations would have to go through other countries before getting to them. Now with the Atomic age & beyond, this protection is not enough. They may become aggresive, to feed it's people. Also, they don't like being viewed as a non progressive country. They don't like being thought of as 2nd any more than we would.

Answer 3

There are two superpowers, the US and China. If Africa and South America follow the EU and create a similar alliance the need for superpowers will become moot and we can stop worry about who is the biggest, or who has the most.

Answer 4

Yes, when Christian conservatives hijack the education system to teach religious philosophy in place of science, is it any wonder?

Answer 5

No, but it will be once a liberal left winger is elected.