The U.S. is the world's most powerful country, not it's leader. Just to clarify.
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus
Someday it won't. It works in cycles throughout all of history. My guess is that China will eventually hold more power than the US. That much is just inevitable, more people and likely a bigger empire at some point as I doubt they would have qualms about taking over some of Southeast Asia in the medium to long term.
It won't really matter much though because I sense that despite all the recent UN woes and such, there won't be another showdown militarily like the Cold War. For all its faults, the current geo-political schemes of the world work pretty damn well. The only issues are between isolated parties and non-state actors such as terrorists.
It won't really matter much though because I sense that despite all the recent UN woes and such, there won't be another showdown militarily like the Cold War. For all its faults, the current geo-political schemes of the world work pretty damn well. The only issues are between isolated parties and non-state actors such as terrorists.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phaedrus:
The U.S. is the world's most powerful country, not it's leader. Just to clarify.
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
LOL. Phaedrus, love the sarcasm ... but to be honest these things scare me too
The U.S. is the world's most powerful country, not it's leader. Just to clarify.
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
LOL. Phaedrus, love the sarcasm ... but to be honest these things scare me too
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Journeyman:
What in your opinion would have to happen for the U.S. to no longer be the World Leader?
Is this even possible?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The U.S. will always be a world power. Our geographic location, natural resources, wealth, military, and capitalistic society assure this.
Whether or not there is such a thing as world leader could be debated endlessly. I don't think a world leader exists. (For instance, I don't see how the U.S. is "leading" China, or Russia, nor do they "lead" the U.S.) But there certainly are only a handful of world powers. Because of the advancements in communication and the developement of a more globalized economy, more cooperation between the world power is more essential than it ever was, and is completely necessary for the advancement of society.
What in your opinion would have to happen for the U.S. to no longer be the World Leader?
Is this even possible?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The U.S. will always be a world power. Our geographic location, natural resources, wealth, military, and capitalistic society assure this.
Whether or not there is such a thing as world leader could be debated endlessly. I don't think a world leader exists. (For instance, I don't see how the U.S. is "leading" China, or Russia, nor do they "lead" the U.S.) But there certainly are only a handful of world powers. Because of the advancements in communication and the developement of a more globalized economy, more cooperation between the world power is more essential than it ever was, and is completely necessary for the advancement of society.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phaedrus:
The U.S. is the world's most powerful country, not it's leader. Just to clarify.
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If that were to be, America would build from the ground up, once again. A winner is a winner. The United States of American, my friend, is a winner. Rest assured in that fact and sleep a little easier.
The U.S. is the world's most powerful country, not it's leader. Just to clarify.
For this position of "exclusive superpower" to be seriously threatened, it would take some extreme scenarios -- for example, some sort of unwinnable global war against an invisible hobgoblin of an enemy, or a wide-scale drain of upper-middle class jobs (in the tech sector for example) or for the government to run a massive, national-scale Ponzi scheme and then it goes broke and collapses, or for the currency of the nation to be debased so severely that it is only worth anything to anyone because "that's how it's always been ..." some far-out shit like that would have to happen, so I think we're pretty safe for now.
Phaedrus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If that were to be, America would build from the ground up, once again. A winner is a winner. The United States of American, my friend, is a winner. Rest assured in that fact and sleep a little easier.
I need to disagree about China. I have a manufacturing plant in Korea and deal directly with the Chinese. They will not last more than 20 more years. They are based on lies and untruths. The only thing that keeps them around is there relationship with walmart and Neil Bush relationship with Premier's son. They are all working together but the problem with dealing with them is they can be dishonest and hide behind Chinese Flag with no harm
Being the world super power is not all its made out to be. How many Swedish, Dutch, German, hell for that matter Costa Rican families are crying over loved ones killed in action right now? Or worried sick that a knock on the door might come any minute about a son, or husband, or even daughter, or wife who has been killed or wounded in a useless war on the other side of the world. Don't tell me the price of freedom in the US is democracy in Iraq, I just don't buy it.
wil.
wil.
El Diablo - believe whatever you want. In the first place we were not THE world power when either world war started. Saying we were the same power then as we are today is like comparing apples and watermelons. The invasion of Iraq has nothing at all in common with what brought us into WW1, and even less than what brought us into WW2. My post was about the US today, why should our young soldiers be dying everyday on the other side of the world? Unless you have been in actual combat you have no idea what it is really like for a soldier or for his family, I have been there, whether you believe it or not.
wil.
wil.
No we will not be a power forever. Fortunately, we will probably be dead when it does fall.
It could fall faster if this Iraq thing is not resolved. Many people believe that Reagan stared down the Soviet Union and caused it demise, but many leading economists believes it was their Afghanistan folly that was there downfall. The same could happen to us unless we get a good conservative like Ron Paul in the White House.
It could fall faster if this Iraq thing is not resolved. Many people believe that Reagan stared down the Soviet Union and caused it demise, but many leading economists believes it was their Afghanistan folly that was there downfall. The same could happen to us unless we get a good conservative like Ron Paul in the White House.
I doubt that Iraq, like Vietnam before it, could bring you down.
Iraq is nowhere near what your Vietnam commitment was anyway.
I would be inclined towards something more insidious, like the oil running out and there being and no mass cheap credible alternative, that sort of thing.
Water (various civilisations)
Climate change(ditto)
disease/health(ditto)
pollution problems(something that China is heading towards fast)
Social change (Britain had to hand back her colonies which were 'nice little earners'.)
Food shortages
If the Global Corporate structure becomes as socially unacceptable as Colonisation did, the US would be severely affected.
It sounds silly, but so did handing India and Africa back to them 100 years before we actually handed them back.
I'm still not sure about Rome.
They were ruthless and technically proficient, ambitious people could do well in their structure. The 'haves' had plenty to fight for and even the 'have nots' had something. Food and security. Things well worth fighting for because they make bringing up a family much easier.
Food brought down russian communism, if you can't feed 'em properly, you're history.
Social change occurs at lightning speed.
http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/history/isthmia/teg/Hist111H/issues/rome1.html
Since not all viewpoints are available on the Internet, this list of theories about the Fall of Rome is limited:
Decay
Financial Problems
The Dole and Barbarians
Economic, Military, Gradual
Christianity
Vandals and Religious Controversy
Division of the Empire
Lead Poisoning
Hoarding and Deficit
My own totally unscientific guess for the fall of Rome is food shortages.(for whatever reasons, drought pestilence, rivalry between different areas etc)
Nothing effects a faster quieter change in social structure than an empty belly.
[This message was edited by eek on April 25, 2004 at 07:14 AM.]
Iraq is nowhere near what your Vietnam commitment was anyway.
I would be inclined towards something more insidious, like the oil running out and there being and no mass cheap credible alternative, that sort of thing.
Water (various civilisations)
Climate change(ditto)
disease/health(ditto)
pollution problems(something that China is heading towards fast)
Social change (Britain had to hand back her colonies which were 'nice little earners'.)
Food shortages
If the Global Corporate structure becomes as socially unacceptable as Colonisation did, the US would be severely affected.
It sounds silly, but so did handing India and Africa back to them 100 years before we actually handed them back.
I'm still not sure about Rome.
They were ruthless and technically proficient, ambitious people could do well in their structure. The 'haves' had plenty to fight for and even the 'have nots' had something. Food and security. Things well worth fighting for because they make bringing up a family much easier.
Food brought down russian communism, if you can't feed 'em properly, you're history.
Social change occurs at lightning speed.
http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/history/isthmia/teg/Hist111H/issues/rome1.html
Since not all viewpoints are available on the Internet, this list of theories about the Fall of Rome is limited:
Decay
Financial Problems
The Dole and Barbarians
Economic, Military, Gradual
Christianity
Vandals and Religious Controversy
Division of the Empire
Lead Poisoning
Hoarding and Deficit
My own totally unscientific guess for the fall of Rome is food shortages.(for whatever reasons, drought pestilence, rivalry between different areas etc)
Nothing effects a faster quieter change in social structure than an empty belly.
[This message was edited by eek on April 25, 2004 at 07:14 AM.]
