The United States internationally in 50 years.

[Comprehend]

Is the United States in a decline like Rome before it fell?

What will be the position of the United States in 50 years?

Superpower? Outcast? non-existant?

What do you see in the future for the United States?

 

[Reverend Rick]

The future of the United States in the long term is bleak. We are dependant on foreign oil, over privileged, undereducated and leave our borders wide open for whoever wants to walk into our country. Our country is aging and the work ethic our nation was built upon is dwindling.

With the tax and spend Democrats and the borrow and spend Republicans as our only choices, class envy will be the unraveling of the fabric of our society. We are a debtor nation with no financial plan to get back on track because our politicians are to scared to acknowledge this and the American people lack the ability to sacrifice for the future. We are a live for today bunch of losers.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

All nations and empires rise then decline and fall.
America rose on the back of the pioneers and the huge resources found in many parts of the states.

Most of those resources are in mid to late decline. and America has only been able to continue to grow on the back of Hitech advances.
Traditional Industries are in terminal decline, and the millions who depended on them have in the main had to settle for lower paid alternatives.
Education for the masses, which never advanced much above the basic, has been over taken by many third world countries; and has been eclipsed by India and china, Japan and other eastern countries.
American prospects are not yet hopeless, but will take a major change in attitude and thinking.

The individualist approach which have served them well in the past, no longer works well in the crowded modern world. America must learn some of the co-operative benefits of socialism...especially regarding health care, education, insurance, and government lead investment where people rather then profit are the main motivator.
Unless America Does this, the social pressures that in the past have been a source of strength, will start to tear her apart. Then she will truly be on the downward trail.

For many generations she is likely to be an important Country, But like the UK will have here best days behind her. The dominant countries of the future will see America, a debtor nation, as a vast land resource that they can exploit. The American People will be used in this exploitation, as an almost inexhaustible supply of local cheap labour.

 

[greatcalgarian]

If the neo con idea can be put into practice, and executed without using unacceptable unethical means, American Empire can last for another 50 years.

However, the current attempt and method used by the neo con are not acceptable in the current modern world, so their action will only backfire.

Chinese has a saying that the wealth of a family will generally not last for more than four generations. The reason is that the last two generations would have lost the fighting spirit as the first two generations, and hence will not even be able to maintain the status quo.

China history also saw many rise and fall of different empires. The fall of an empire is usually a result of the leaders becoming corrupted, too egoistic, too selfish, and forgot that their position is actually a result of the support of the mass. Currently American leaders (those holding the power and wealth) have not reached the stage of no return. However, these leaders have to come up with new ideas to stimulate the mass support, to recognize that continued exploiting other nations to provide the luxury life in America may not be for long, and some new way of life (sort of a revolution) is needed.

 

[Valjean]

I see a lot of similarity to Rome.

Rome began as a republic but became a totalitarian superstate as more and more power was arrogated by the Executive.
Despite it's might, Rome was paranoid and fearful of neighboring states. It "defended" its interests by military threat, invasion and occupation; planting military bases all over the known world.
It's military also enabled a worldwide economic hegemony. Rome monopolized, and often depleted, resources everywhere it went.

 

[greatcalgarian]

I see a lot of similarity to Rome.

Rome began as a republic but became a totalitarian superstate as more and more power was arrogated by the Executive.
Despite it's might, Rome was paranoid and fearful of neighboring states. It "defended" its interests by military threat, invasion and occupation; planting military bases all over the known world.
It's military also enabled a worldwide economic hegemony. Rome monopolized, and often depleted, resources everywhere it went.

Rome empire grew because of the political leaders. Once the leader quality has gone down, as well as the leaders in the Senate, the political structure system will not sustain the empire by brutal force.

So for the US empire to fall, it has to start with the current Senate leaders and President elected into office. If there is no outstanding leaders coming forward, US will fall like Rome.

 

[Valjean]

To clarify, I don't see the US as comparable to Rome during it's gradual decline. I see it as more like the Rome of 27 BC, when the Republican traditions were in decline and extraordinary powers were ceded to Octavian by the Senate.
I also see a disturbing political similarity to 1930s Germany.

 

[greatcalgarian]

To clarify, I don't see the US as comparable to Rome during it's gradual decline. I see it as more like the Rome of 27 BC, when the Republican traditions were in decline and extraordinary powers were ceded to Octavian by the Senate.
I also see a disturbing political similarity to 1930s Germany.

So you think the current US political structure will sustain the leadership and will not follow the Rome path?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

The future of the United States in the long term is bleak. We are dependant on foreign oil, over privileged, undereducated and leave our borders wide open for whoever wants to walk into our country. Our country is aging and the work ethic our nation was built upon is dwindling.

Undereducated?

Interestingly, having our borders open is keeping our country from aging.

 

[Smoke]

What do you see in the future for the United States?

Well, I've just purchased Naomi Wolf's The End of America, and while I'm not expecting to like what she says, I'm expecting to agree with it. My feeling is that it's basically all over but the crying. I think even now it might be possible to pull back from the abyss, but I'll be surprised if it happens. China is the future, and in fifty years your grandchildren may be on waiting lists to emigrate to places you'd never dream of going, or trying to slip over the border in the dead of night. Seriously.

This book is subtitled Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot - A Citizen's Call to Action. Maybe she'll give me some glimmer of hope, and I won't feel quite so like Jeremiah in a few days. We'll see.

 

[Smoke]

So you think the current US political structure will sustain the leadership and will not follow the Rome path?

Seyorni is saying we're more like the Fall of the Republic than the Fall of the Empire. Neither is a cheery prospect.

 

[Pariah]

Seyorni is saying we're more like the Fall of the Republic than the Fall of the Empire. Neither is a cheery prospect.

To think that America might be even more powerful than it is right now is an interesting idea.

 

[Diogenes]

America is a debtor nation because we buy and consume a huge portion of the world's goods. So if America falls-who is going to be purchasing all the surplus? The next fifty years may prove perilous, but as much as the rest of the world resents America, many nations have become dependent on her purchasing power (Babylon is fallen...etc.).

 

[Pariah]

America is a debtor nation because we buy and consume a huge portion of the world's goods. So if America falls-who is going to be purchasing all the surplus? The next fifty years may prove perilous, but as much as the rest of the world resents America, many nations have become dependent on her purchasing power (Babylon is fallen...etc.).

How does that statement finish, "Babylon is fallen"... and what is its meaning?

 

[yossarian22]

How does that statement finish, "Babylon is fallen"... and what is its meaning?

I believe the original quote is "Babylon the great is Fallen." From the bible (Revelation I think)
It has something to do with the fall of a single world government. American economy falls, so does the entire world economy.
People can say that China can crash our economy. Maybe they can, but if they do, they'd crash the entire global economy.

 

[yossarian22]

I also see a disturbing political similarity to 1930s Germany.

Now that is fairly unique. I have seen several arguments pointing out fascism in America, but never anything quite as severe as 1930s Germany. What makes you think this?

 

[Booko]

People can say that China can crash our economy. Maybe they can, but if they do, they'd crash the entire global economy.

That may be what saves us -- if China calls in our loans, there goes their economy as well.

 

[Valjean]

Now that is fairly unique. I have seen several arguments pointing out fascism in America, but never anything quite as severe as 1930s Germany. What makes you think this?

Just off the top of my head:

Arrogation of extraordinary powers by an Executive, justified by an appeal to fear.

Military buildup/adventurism.

Scapegoating -- blaming problems/insecurity on a specific "enemy."

Censorship of opposing views or opinions, plus exclusion of non-supporters from political events.

Censorship of world news, opinions and commentary.

Usage of catastrophic events (Reichstag/9/11) as justification for militarism, curtailment of legal rights, covert government surveillance, &c.

Veneration of the military and military adventurism..

 

[blackout]

NWO, here we come.......

 

[blackout]

Just off the top of my head:

Arrogation of extraordinary powers by an Executive, justified by an appeal to fear.

Military buildup/adventurism.

Scapegoating -- blaming problems/insecurity on a specific "enemy."

Censorship of opposing views or opinions, plus exclusion of non-supporters from political events.

Censorship of world news, opinions and commentary.

Usage of catastrophic events (Reichstag/9/11) as justification for militarism, curtailment of legal rights, covert government surveillance, &c.

Veneration of the military and military adventurism..

VERY GOOD ANSWERS!