How Long Will America Lead the World?

[C2Z06]

I'm not sure about the decline of the US being so close. I truly think there are too many pesismists out there.

The #1 thing that drives scientific discovery and industrial inovation which leads to the most greatest and strongest economies is competition. You've got more and more international companies producing goods here in the US. Stabilus, BMW, Toyota, Honda, HSBC and the list grows each week. It is causing companies that exist inside the US to become better or die. They're creating jobs, usually in more employee friendly environments than any use has produced to date. They run 6-sigma (process improvement) methodology not to improve quarterly earnings reports for improved stock prices (which is part of what's hurting GM and Ford among othe US companies). They run 6-sigma with the end goal of producing higher quality products with a higher client satisfaction. So they're constantly evolving and improving.

No other nation in the world has as many competing companies as inside the US. Internal competition in a country drives innovation which in turns keeps that country ahead of all others. The number of competing companies inside the US is growing faster than in any other nation! We have nothing to fear so long as we allow these companies to compete.

[cody_e]

America is not going to fall! This is completely absurd. If it wasn't for America pouring money into other economies China and the other countries wouldn't be jack squat. Also we have a middle class. This helps stabilized our economy more. In China and many other countries they have the haves (the rich) and the have not's (the poor). Their economy fluctuates way too much. For the communistic places like China they are going to have a democratic revolution there is not doubt about it. Once half a billion people go in rebellion it's goign to be hard to stop them. Plus we have something other people don't have and that is the American will. No matter what we'll find a way through anything.

[666_speed]

In college, the most interesting class I've ever had was my US History since 1865. The professor seemed to know what he was talking about. He believes we're bringing ourselves down and that any war action we get involved in will pan out to be worse than we expect. I've never lived anywhere other than the US, and sadly I can see it bringing itself down from the inside. Anyone, educated or not, can see we're our biggest problems. I don't believe America will disappear like other civilizations of past, but we simply cannot be on top forever.

[C2Z06]

I understand that 9/11 changed many things in the paradigm of our nation. We're locked in a struggle of covert operations, media propoganda and culture morality issues. At some point the US needs to become politically and militarily isolationist while being economically expanionist.

We need to come to some moral consensus on what is acceptible or not acceptible for cultural behavior. There are TV shows which glorify teenage promiscuity, manipulation of others lives for personal entertainment etc and it's called entertainment. In reality, these things cause many problems and are known as "baggage" in a person's life. We're focused on "looking out for #1" to such an extent that people can't have a healthy marriage which is a commitment to look after the other person before yourself. The list goes on. Rome slowly decayed and most historians believe it was because of a slow redirection of what was morally acceptible. With lines being grayed in personal lives, quality in professionalism also slipped and in many cases is what is happening know I believe.

I can see that as a reason many believe the US will slowly rot away, but I do not think it will come to that. Call me an idealist, but we're due for a great leader to inspire us to change our outlook on the world, eachother and individually in such a way that we're bound for growth and continued dominance in the world.

[capricorn]

I believe that the future of the US resides in education. If this article is as accurate as I believe it to be, then yes, I do believe that the US will plateau economically long enough for others in the international community to emerge stronger and overtake the US in terms of being the ‘world leader’.

I believe that the article is merely an editorial that brings to light how other countries are excelling and how America is falling behind with respect to education. There has been much in the media regarding how the youth of America have been lagging year after year in the sciences. Innovation comes out of competition; that’s true but necessity is the driving force behind technological leaps. A case in point would be higher mileages for automobiles. The need for higher mpg drove the hybrid vehicle into realization. The move from a purely petroleum engine to that of a hybrid electrical/gasoline engine is a major shift in paradigm for the auto industry. That’s innovation (competition plays a secondary role in this case as it promoted fine-tuning of the engine to make it competitive to those in its class.)

Being a world superpower is built on a lot more than education and having the technological resources readily available. Domestic politics must nurture a strong economy that can fund and promote the seeds of education before technological resources are able to take root. In my opinion, China (mainland) will have to slowly embrace democracy if it is to realize the dream of becoming a strong and rich nation.. If we look at the US and the EU, there is the existence of capitalism. This gives motivation to work for the sake of personal wealth. Imagine if we take that away and the rewards that your hard work has reaped is not only yours but is distributed among those that have not expended any energy. Not surprising that it doesn’t motivate anyone does it?

Why I think China (mainland) and Taiwan will take much much longer to reach superpower status – domestic politics. What differs between the US and those two countries are that they both rely on international trade for the health of their economy. This means that their trade will be contingent on international as well as domestic politics. The ‘rich’ countries rely on their domestic markets first and seek international markets only when their domestic market is saturated. This keeps their own markets and economics strong and diverts the wealth generated into the domestic economy rather than an international one. The only caveat here is that you must have a domestic market to begin with. China does not have a rich domestic market (per capita). Their population is huge but the disposable income of each individual is roughly $500-$600USD annually (or about $50USD a month; keep in mind this number does not include everyday expenses such as food and clothing). This greatly limits the number of products an average household in China may find ‘attractive’ and affordable. The overall market is large but without a cheap enough product that appeals to that market, the wealth potential is non existent.

[cody_e]

Not to mention in the next 20-50 years China will be overpopulated with men and the man to woman ration will be liek 20:1. China's 1 child per couple rule has made a high amount of boys and a low amount of girls. Now think of AIDS and how it is destroying Asia. India and China both have spiraling out of control AIDS epidemic. I think they have a long way to go if they want to catch up with us. Also another thing they have is socialism and big government with a lot of beurarcracy. It's ineffecient.

[drunken monkey]

what happens when most of the businesses that exsist within a country is owned/run by a foreign body?

[C2Z06]

The foreign country will have a growing upper class and the country with the laborers will either sustain or have a growing middle class. The strength of the middle class is the key to any strong economy and democratic system. Also, if more overseas countries moves into the US, it creates more competition and a necessity for innovation. Innovation breeds growth. Perfect example. The Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina was one of the few areas in the country from 2000-2003 to grow during the recession and unemployment was less than 1/2 of the national average. All major businesses were international companies in the area, primarily BMW and affiliated suppliers.

[drunken monkey]

so what happens if the foriegn prescence decide to remove themselves from the equation? in your example, what would happen if BMW were to suddenly disappear/relocate?

[C2Z06]

Much of that local economy would slowly wither away if not replaced by another business, whether domestically or foreign owned. Look at all the textile towns in NC or Catawba County NC. It had more telecuminications businesses than any other county in the US. WorldCom scandal's hit, the company splits and they lay off thousands. The county is still in ruins from it even though most of the state has been booming for years. Spartanburg County, SC learned from their neighbors 3 counties due north and granted tax exemption to non-auto related industries. A yacht factory, modular home factory and several other businesses have come to the area. It's 2-3 hrs away from Charlotte, NC and with the airports, 2-3hrs of Atlanta on the other side, USC, The Citadel, Clemson, UNC etc all supplying highly educated employees, it's a great location to have a business especially since the state taxes are amongst the lowest in the nation for businesses.