Are we in the midst of the fall of the American empire?

Question

As our best poet said, The times they are a-changing". The most hated country and only super power - at this point in time - the United States appears to be losing influence every day. For example, Australians have just voted to end 11 years of Conservative rule which means - I think - that our down-under friends may soon withdraw their support of American interference in foreign civil wars. Big business is also opposed to the Kyoto Accord to fight global warming. But with the exception of Canada (our cold banana republic to the north), all nations approved tough new clean-air regulations. Canada was obviously instructed by Washington to vote NO on grounds that some major polluters - such as China - were not part of the Accord. In other words, let's do nothing until everybody's on board.

Answer 1

Rome.
I did read Mr. Gibbons book on that. "The Fall and Decline of the Roman Empire", is a good book, rather boring to some, I found it interesting as well as insightful.
Mr. Thomas Jefferson also spoke of that.
Although Mr Dylan is a great satirist,artist,minstrel, I do not feel that Mr. Dylan/Zimmerman, is our greatest poet.
But enough of that, back to Empires, which we are not.
The American Experiment is what the founders called it. It still is in motion.
We demanded Independence and Freedom from undue taxation and no actual representation. That was then.
This is now, taxation has spiraled to insane and ludicrous demands of a few while the many go without.
Yet we are flexible, that is the beauty of The Democratic Republic.
I also read Plato's . "The Republic". Another fine read full of well intentioned ideals.
Kyoto, tuff call there, we are power hungry, self serving, capitalists. If it does not make a profit, it does not make sense to us.
NAFTA is still in effect, that kinda works.
Big Business , well that is the US Government, now. Didn't start that way, but dare I say, it evolved into the largest corporation with the most payouts to a few that happen to have the right hand in the left pocket.
The biggest superpower, is the same as it was in 1953:
1950
North Korean Communist forces invade South Korea (June 25). UN calls for cease-fire and asks UN members to assist South Korea (June 27). Truman orders U.S. forces into Korea (June 27). North Koreans capture Seoul (June 28). Gen. Douglas MacArthur designated commander of unified UN forces (July 8). Pusan Beachhead—UN forces counterattack and capture Seoul (Aug.–Sept.), capture Pyongyang, North Korean capital (Oct.). Chinese Communists enter war (Oct. 26), force UN retreat toward 38th parallel (Dec.).

1951
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway replaces MacArthur after he threatens Chinese with massive retaliation (April 11). Armistice negotiations (July) continue with interruptions until June 1953.

1953
Armistice signed (July 27). Chinese troops withdraw from North Korea (Oct. 26, 1958), but over 200 violations of armistice noted to 1959.
They threatened the full might of the USA with sheer numbers, a three billion person army is kinda unstoppable.
Utopia is a dream of those that dare to dream.
When we send US Navy ships to aid the victims of the disaster that happened here, Katrina, that would be a start of a positive turnaround from policies that have gone very bad and been disastrous in outcome, Iraq War.
When we can help ourselves , then and only then will we be in a position to even offer help to another.
My granny told me that when a person gets there act together, then they can help others.
(or something like that)
Ice caps are melting, fact, we are putting up lights for a make believe man that only pollutes the world more and makes lakes like the one in Atlanta dry up.
I think I will move to a mountain.

Answer 2

America was an isolationist country until the sinking of the Lusitania by the German's on May 1, 1915. Then we joined the allies during the Great War. We slowly started back to isolationism but never quite made it because of the Great Depression. Then on September 30, 1939 Germany invaded Poland. The Second World War had begun. America said it was neutral, but that was a lie. We used lend-lease and out right aid to England, Russia, and a few other countries. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They declared war on us the same day. We declared war the next day. Germany declared war on us four days later. That day was the last day America would ever be an isolationist country. We are the only country in the world that has successfully fought a two front war, Europe and Asia. We diverted over 65% of our industry to the war effort. In contrast Germany only used 20%. We supplied the allies with weapons, machines, ammo, and manpower. After the war only the British has paid us back the money we had lent them. So basically, on December 7, 1941 America became a superpower. It is now 66 years later. Superpowers have come and gone. The Soviet Union no longer exists and Russia is confused on which way it is headed. China wants to say it is a Communist country, but relies on trade with the west in order to feed its people. India, the world's largest democracy, is unable to make peace within its own borders let alone the border with Bangladesh and Afganistan.

Global Warming is not man made. The Earth cycles through climate changes all the time. In the middle ages there was a mini-ice age. When have had ice ages and the Earth flipping on its side, fossils of plants found in Antartica. There will always be climate changes. England in the 1850's produced more polution itself then the entire world does now. The country was run on coal and sulfer coal at that. I am not blaming England other countries were just as bad.

The Kyoto Accords are designed by the Third World to make it harder for the rest of the planet. They are not needed. Our own EPA is stronger then the Accords.

Canada the last time I checked is its own country. They do as they please on the world stage. They answer to no one but their own voters. No country in the word does anything instructed by Washington. If that were true, then the Middle East would be at Peace, there would be no civil wars in Africa, South America would not be full of dictators like Hugo Chavez and Mexico would figure out a way to keep 20% of its population in its own country. As for China, it is a major major polluter, that is true. What will happen to China is very easy to see. My daughter told Grandpa (me) that her children (my grandchildren) were not to receive any toys made in China. Either China shapes up or we stop spending money. And as we all know money makes the world go around.

Answer 3

As an Australian, I can tell you that the new government being elected has almost nothing to do with America.
The main issues were:

New Industrial Relation laws giving massive powers to business at the expese of workers.

The conservative government acting far too late on climate change.

John Howard (the popular ex-Prime Minister) retiring and handing leadership too Peter Costello (the very unpopular ex-Treasurer)

Kevin Rudd (the new Prime Minister) having an enviable connection with young people and families that John Howard couldn't match.

But there is also the failure of the Iraq war, which Labor have always been opposed to.

We still want to be mates, but not when we get dragged into any more wars that have no positive outcomes. Just chill out and you'll be right!

Answer 4

Perhaps the fall of imperialism--but not the fall of America. In other words, as an American citizen with a global and historical perspective, I can see that imperialism leads eventually to it's own destruction, but I am in no way saying that this would be the end of of America. Interestingly, this may mean the salvation of America and in time an authentic introduction of America into the larger world community on a co-equal, cooperative basis. As one of the answerers has already responded, all empires in time must fall. Any country (just as any person), who positions itself (him-/herself) as the world police or as being especially privileged or exempt from responsibility is engaging in self-destruction. Let's not scapegoat America. We have all had a hand in creating this great big beautiful mess. Together, we may be able to make some positive changes, if we can lift a hand or two to help instead of pointing the finger of blame. Don't mean to sound so preachy. I just get weary of anti-American rhetoric, when I have tried all my life to be a world citizen.

Answer 5

No we aren't drawing our support from the USA, I think we are our own country and we should govern it the way the Australians want not what other countries want us to do. But stay friends with all the other countries and help each other Just that John Howard was peeing Bushes pocket all the time. We are hoping Kevin Rudd give the average person a go because what was happening Howard was widening the gap between the rich and the poor. And no ones job was safe

Answer 6

Perhaps, it is Americans lead themselves down. The holiday retailer report showed good but the mortgage market going worse. That means, Americans used up their maortgage money to buy gifts or anything for their holidays. Then, the depression is coming as many economist said.

Australia is playing little in Iraq: only three thousand troops. No big deal!

Nowadays, they have no need to use China as scapegoats. They can point to solar activities as the only source in affecting weather. Then, they would loss a lot of opportunities. If every car in U.S. is changed to hybrid engine or hydrogen engine. What would be the annual revenue! Green business will be the next business crazy after computers or gadgets. It can turn U.S. business back on trek.

Answer 7

China: with the global pollution of an equivalent of 30 Billion, yes 30 Billion Ford Excursions burning there gases day and night, how can we compensate and, why should we if they won't comply?
Why does everyone look to America and say "do something" why should the American public continually be in the limelight for all the world problems, from wars to famine, from health to natural disasters.
You have Chavez down south spouting out how great he is, give him some flack and see what you get. Give Castro some flack about pollution. Tell the Chinese to "cool it" see what happens when you try this. The Saudis are the richest nation in the world, tell them your problems. See if the Russians are concerned. The Japanese are killing off al the sea life in the oceans, no one seems to care anymore.
In the meantime, leave us Americans alone, for once. Our men and women will be coming home, four million of them, we have to find them jobs, health care, cure the scars of war. Our hands are full.

Answer 8

We have been for years,We are a slow decaying society. This Once Great Country that we know is no more. We are a giant snowball headed for hell. As for foreign affairs ,we should never have interfered with them and there business. The U S Government is responsible for the 911 attack. They allowed those people into America because of greed. They taught them to fly our planes, look what happens >The U S Gov. sells our used military equipment to them and even teaches them the operational procedures. This will backfire too. Our gov. don;t care though, It is all about the money to them. Are you and I allowed to vote in our own ridiculous priced payraise, NO But congress and senators are

Answer 9

I think if things don't change, America will fall. We're losing jobs, everything is going overseas. We are giving illegals benefits, when we have plenty of homeless here. People can go to prison for minor offenses and murderers and rapists can go free. The gov't is taking away some of our freedoms. That's never good! We don't pay our military like we should. The list goes on and on.

Answer 10

The one talent america has is putting a sort of gloss finish over everything, they've been doing this for some time, but its safe to say that some big cracks are appearing. Most americans wont notice the cracks on the outside of their house until they step outside it - and apparently most are not the likely to do that.