Honestly, I think that America is in a decline right now, one that must be reversed if we wish to remain as powerful a force in the world. As I see it, the EU is on the rise right now, as well as a variety of Asian countries.

The EU We seem to be loosing ground to the EU, given the relative strength of the Euro, perhaps due to the irresponsible spending by our gvt in the past four years. Some people explain this as mere market fluctuations, but I dont think so. The EU also has a very good cahnce of beoming more powerful than us militarialy, given that they have everything they need, but they just haven't invested the money.

China and South-Asia China has an economic stranglehold on us. We are unable to act in ways tath may antagonize China. Consumer products manufactured in China are ubiquitous inthe US, and the corporations are able to keep their profit margins so high because of the cheap manufacturing in China and South Asia. Also, amny of our jobs, even ones sucha as radiologists are being outsourced to overseas. While this amy be all part of a free-trade economy, something needs to be done.

Anti-Intellectualism and the Brain Drain
Oh yes. Our current president won by allying himself with "the common NASCAR watching man", uneducated and bigoted. The president never made any suggestions taht the Americans could be better people if they were less ignorant, he just allied himself with taht ignorance. Evangelical christianity contributes in large part to this anti- intellectualism. Rather than favoring individuality of thought, it favors showing off and brainless conformity.
Has anyone ever seen a revival meeting or something? The preachers are mere demagouges, not kind shepards. The exhort their "flok" to mass politcal action, such as all voting for Bush, the candidate in line with their "morals". morals which make it impossible to obtain funding for more advanced forms of Biological research.
Britain, I believe, recently legalized human cloning research, and here we are arguing about stem cells. American science ahs fallen behind. Look at NASA! This **** never would have gone down 50 years ago!

Anyway, now taht I'm finised with my tirade, waht do other people think? Are we slipping into a deciline or not?

P.S. Celtic, I'm not trying to be offensive to you or your country or life-style or anything. As you know, I'm a real supporter when it comes to your views. I just don't think it's very fair when you look at it from my end of the debate.

But seriously, no disrespect meant. I apologize IMMENSLY if you feel insulted in any way.

quote:

Puerto Rico is not a colony. They have representation in Congress without having to pay Federal Taxes. This is wrong. I say bring em in, make em pay or cut them loose. Would you support that, the cutting loose of PR. Of course not, you wouldn't and no one down there would, they are perfectly happy living in sovriegnty and still having representation in Congress. PR is simply a parasite not a colony.

I agree. I think it is unfair that they have representation and can control the outcome of things that will affect ME and MY LIFE, and yet they don't have the same responsibilites I have (or will have considering I'm still a minor). Privilege without obligation shouldn't be allowed in a democracy like the USA. Or, at least, in MY humble opinion.

As to answer Maxno's question: I'm weeping for joy that someone else has finally caught on. I've been noticing the decline of the US for quite some time now nad frankly, I'm terrified. Maybe I'm being too much of a brat or whatever, but I've never lived where the US hasn't been a super-power and am not sure I'm comfortable yet with our weakening economy.

I don't mean to say that we should try and obtain and keep the power by any means necessary, but yes, we ARE steadily moving downhill and tumbling down farther and faster than we have, I'd say since the Great Depression.

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I say bring em in, make em pay or cut them loose

We do pay. It's called La Planilla. It's one big steal of cash, once a year, all of a sudden.

Marine, clearly you have not been to the rest of the Caribbean. In any case, we don't welcome arrogant Gringos who believe they are the kings of the world, thus, you wouldn't have enjoyed it with the locals either. In any case, when you come, you have to go to the area out of San Juan; Vieques, Boquerón, Trujillo Alto (where I happen to live), Fajardo, Arecibo, etc. San Juan is a disgust, as well as Bayamón (but I doubt you went there).

There are 3 military bases here. During drafts, our soldiers go, as well as in any war in general.

We don't want to be your state; **** no. Seriously. Tell a Puerto Rican that he/she is angry because we're not your state and you'll receive a punch in the face. Most people here either hate Americans or love them (the extremes, yes), but hey, we're just using you. No **** on that one. But hey, you get your passport-less vacation spot, your radiotelescope that's the largest on the planet (and is here), the sea ports here that take most Caribbean cruises off to the rest of the Caribbean, a place where you can come and it's excellent in comparison to the conditions of the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America, your American dollar, the fact that most people speak English, and our soldiers (not that we need them, no one hates Puerto Ricans except rednecks, so it's not like terrorists will approach us). It's a give and take.

And BS, I hope you don't take that "PR is a parasite" attitude if you visit. I'm telling you that out of sheer concern; the people here are nice until you either: a. bash the country, b. bash their family, or c. believe you are better. Then the whole violent Puerto Rican thing comes. "¡Mátalo, quítale el bicho, puto, aaaaaaaahhh mátalo!"

In any case, I am proud to live in a country in which the people do not eat hamburgers until they cannot fit into a plane seat, in which the people can travel abroad and not be spat at, that incest is uncommon and the musical insult that is the banjo does not exist, that most people are bilingual since birth (sí, vete al carajo y que te la chingue un burro canto 'e cabrón comemierda que se cree que caga flores), in which racism has never been an issue (I am racist, but that's another story), that does not have the painfully high number of serial killers that you have, and that is not a twisted society whose goal is to thrive under a Neverland-ish unachiaveable concept whilst being insensate.

Damn, I am good at wordplay....

Wow, this board is a welcome change from all the I <3 Hilary Duff type boards. Maxno, I liked your paragraph on the anti-intellectualism...and I agree.

I think Brazil's potential for world power status is funny. Because they could utilise a lot of that potential, simply by destroying the Amazon. Brazil is gigantic, and mostly unused territory. I once saw a video that said Brazil was going to be a leading world power in computer technology in a few years...not sure I believe that, but wouldn't Brazilian computers be hilarious?

You also overlooked Iceland's potential as a leader in world affairs. With the most efficient energy resources in the world, a dominating position in genetics sciences, and current plans for the construction of massive submarine propulsion systems that will make it the world's first movable island, Iceland has shocking potential to be one of the leading countries scientifically...and you cannot deny the military power of an Island that can travel the globe via our oceans, intimidating and subduing it's enemies with the ruthless courage of it's Viking heritage. It's true, it has a small population, but what it cannot make up with it's genetically enhanced, nuclear-weapon resistant citizen armada it will with it's terrifying volcano plasma cannons. It has potential to be the Death Star of the 21st century.

I used to think Puerto Ridco was an exotice location that would mystify my senses, then I went there and was sick to my stomach, It was not clean, too hot, and unsanitary. because of this I am really indifferent on them becoming a state.

If PR was a colony we would dictate their every move both economically and politically - which we don't. We would have our military patrolling their streets. They are not a coony in any way. They don't have to send money to us in anyway. They are extended the same rights and privellages of states. All of you who claim PR is colony need to look into what colonies really are. Some reading suggestions include anything that involves pre WWI Asia and pre WWII Africa.

To say PR is colony is like saying that is treated the same way Burhma was under Japan or the same way the Congo was treated under the Belguim.

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Yes, they do claim they own the territory. Look at a map, at the Caribbean, see Puerto Rico, and you'll see this: (U.S.)

As freedom said, no American wants to admit (unless it comes for their own benefit, such as when Americans come here to visit, don't get what they want, then they scream "We own you!") they have colonies. But the palce I live in is a colony, called "territory", but it's basically a Spanish-speaking (and most people here speak English as well), US.

Puerto Rico is not a colony. They have representation in Congress without having to pay Federal Taxes. This is wrong. I say bring em in, make em pay or cut them loose. Would you support that, the cutting loose of PR. Of course not, you wouldn't and no one down there would, they are perfectly happy living in sovriegnty and still having representation in Congress. PR is simply a parasite not a colony.

Yeah seeing that America is the most hated country in the world.

"They're just jealous of our freedom!"

Nice excuse Mr. President... moron.

China is simply too big and spread out to become the next "United States". While some portions of China are modernizing, other portions remain incredibly rural and isolated.

As the US rose to power, the population was concentrated mainly on the East coast. The population grew as our power grew. China already has a huge population and it will be very hard to unite it.

Japan lacks the abundance of resources necessary to build a vast empire.

The way I see it, the US will own the whole world in 50 years. Or at least have a company of marines for every four square miles. Including Antarctica. Can't overlook the strategic importance of Antarctica.

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America is the superpower of today not because of its size or non-existent colonies

Bull****. America does have colonies. I live in one.

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The US doesn't exactly claim the American 'colonies' today as American states and include them in the maps,it's more of the political and economic aggression type.

Yes, they do claim they own the territory. Look at a map, at the Caribbean, see Puerto Rico, and you'll see this: (U.S.)

As freedom said, no American wants to admit (unless it comes for their own benefit, such as when Americans come here to visit, don't get what they want, then they scream "We own you!") they have colonies. But the palce I live in is a colony, called "territory", but it's basically a Spanish-speaking (and most people here speak English as well), US.

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Originally posted by northstar316:
Haven't China and Japan been in a depression for like the last ten years?

I can't say for the whole China,but my city went through the fast growing phase 10 years ago,now it has probably the worst economic of my province.But the number of advanced provinces of China is less than 10 out of 34,these province are growing slower than before.The hotspot of economic growth is moving west where the heat rises again.
Japan's economic has been going down since 1990,but it's not really a depression as people describe it.Go to Japan and you'll get the point.

quote:

Originally posted by freedomordeath:

quote:

America is the superpower of today not because of its size or non-existent colonies,but because of its military power and influence in economics,both of which Japan is catching up,latter of which Japan is actually doing better.

Oh my gosh, educate yourself child! America DOES have "colonies" and "territories" but no one wants to admit it.

In a sense you do,but we were talking about the British type of colonies of the old times.
The US doesn't exactly claim the American 'colonies' today as American states and include them in the maps,it's more of the political and economic aggression type.

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America is the superpower of today not because of its size or non-existent colonies,but because of its military power and influence in economics,both of which Japan is catching up,latter of which Japan is actually doing better.

Oh my gosh, educate yourself child! America DOES have "colonies" and "territories" but no one wants to admit it.

i couldn't agree more with you Maxno. It is true that the american economy is not very good right now, and it is not getting any better, and i also agree with you that george bush isn't really helping with his attitude. In his speeches earlier in his career, he actually sounded like a well edjucated person

if you want to know the answer to your question, take a good long look at our president.

Haven't China and Japan been in a depression for like the last ten years?

quote:

It is not a State intended to replace existing states,

I know that. But it is an umbrella entity containing within it all the member nations of Europe. Like I said, it is very much like the US. Any one of the 50 states could survive as its own nation. Each state has its own government, its own laws, even its own army of a sort. And the Federal government oversees all that, and keeps the states unified.

Just so, the EU oversees the nations of Europe and keeps them united. So it is more like a government than the UN.

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This is idiotic. You people will say anything to undermine the power of the United States of America.

Nice to see you too, BS. Need I remind you that the United States is based on questioning its authority? Besides, I fail to see how using facts to demonstrate how the US is falling behind in world politics and economics is "undermining its power." Yes, by complaining, I'm destroying the foundation of the American way. God, I love doing that. [/sarcasm]

Bushsupporter does have a point. You can only grow SO much. After a while, you really can't go anywhere. And it isn't that we are going backwards, but we are not progressing socially or economically at the pace that Australia, Europe, and E. Asia are.

quote:

Originally posted by Bushsupporter:
China is growing at an unhealthy rate and when they fully democrtize they will fall quite a bit. As they open their economy up more and more they have seen growing inflation and when they open up all the way and let the market work, they will wish that they hadn't grown so fast, stagflation will set in and they will lose GDP on a quarterly basis.

True,many Asian countries experienced similar fast growth before,and is still recovering from the financial storm back in 1997.Signs are already shown in the advanced areas.And I highly doubt how much figures and numbers can really tell.
However,China won't be "fully" democratized,not within my lifetime.