Their outlook is, of course, coloured by Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is not all ideological. They wonder why the U.S., despite spending $700 billion in those two countries, has been incapable of providing clean water, electricity, security and essentials of life. Why it couldn't do so even for its own citizens post-Katrina. Why its soldiers and army of private contractors are so incompetent."
They wonder why the U.S., despite spending $700 billion in those two countries, has been incapable of providing clean water, electricity, security and essentials of life.
"Why it couldn't do so even for its own citizens post-Katrina."
Cashmere wrote:
The Empire is declining . . . but there's a long way to go before it smacks the ground completely.
Jeez - the Byzantines hung around, like, forever.
vision-master wrote:Fixed:
In the end, I couldn't give a shit less about people who were . . .
1. [s]Dumb[/s] Poor enough to live below sea level on the coast in Hurricane Alley.
and
2. [s]Dumb[/s] Poor enough not to leave when the storm passed over Florida and was predicted to hit near New Orleans a full 2 days in advance of land fall.
efarmer wrote:"Taste the sizzling fury of fajita skillet death you marauding zombie goon!"
Denny wrote:Yes, according to this Arab-Canadian Toronto Star columnist.
See Why Obama has stirred the American soul
I have to say, there are so many parallels between the U.S. and the British Empire of old. It sometimes seems that so much that used to great about America's economy and its military in terms of organization and commitment seems to have fallen down in the past generation. The zeal has gone. Innovation gone. Leadership gone, replaced by yes men (and women, these days). It reminds me of how post war Canada came to see the British as washed up, even though we were a part of the British Commonwealth.
As Siddiqui says in the column:
"The American era is over," said someone last year in Doha, the capital of pro-American Qatar.
"How so?" I argued. "The U.S. is still the only superpower."
"A military power and a great killing machine, yes, but not much else," he said. "We maintain our relations with the U.S. but our thinking is now post-American."
Their outlook is, of course, coloured by Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is not all ideological. They wonder why the U.S., despite spending $700 billion in those two countries, has been incapable of providing clean water, electricity, security and essentials of life. Why it couldn't do so even for its own citizens post-Katrina. Why its soldiers and army of private contractors are so incompetent."
Denny wrote:Yes, according to this Arab-Canadian Toronto Star columnist.
See Why Obama has stirred the American soul
I have to say, there are so many parallels between the U.S. and the British Empire of old. It sometimes seems that so much that used to great about America's economy and its military in terms of organization and commitment seems to have fallen down in the past generation. The zeal has gone. Innovation gone. Leadership gone, replaced by yes men (and women, these days). It reminds me of how post war Canada came to see the British as washed up, even though we were a part of the British Commonwealth.
As Siddiqui says in the column:
"The American era is over," said someone last year in Doha, the capital of pro-American Qatar.
"How so?" I argued. "The U.S. is still the only superpower."
"A military power and a great killing machine, yes, but not much else," he said. "We maintain our relations with the U.S. but our thinking is now post-American."
Their outlook is, of course, coloured by Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is not all ideological. They wonder why the U.S., despite spending $700 billion in those two countries, has been incapable of providing clean water, electricity, security and essentials of life. Why it couldn't do so even for its own citizens post-Katrina. Why its soldiers and army of private contractors are so incompetent."
Pops wrote:This was the new world, we had lots of resources, which we exploited for a profit.
We exploited oil and were for a while the leading producer.
Now we are not, just the leading debtor.
So what do we do now?
Pops wrote:This was the new world, we had lots of resources, which we exploited for a profit.
We exploited oil and were for a while the leading producer.
Now we are not, just the leading debtor.
So what do we do now?
JPL wrote:Pops wrote:This was the new world, we had lots of resources, which we exploited for a profit.
We exploited oil and were for a while the leading producer.
Now we are not, just the leading debtor.
So what do we do now?
Well you've already had your revolution so I guess that's out of the question.
The resource base is still pretty good & there is a low population level so things can be fixed up OK. Also the social resources are there.
I think in 20 years time the USA, after the financial & post-oil industrial collapse, will still be a food exporter & a world power on maybe the scale that Brazil is today. A regional power, with an odd & interesting history.
There is nothing in this future to be ashamed about, & possibly a lot to look forward to. You never know...
JP
Kingcoal wrote:It all depends on Americans. If they keep on electing incompetents, then the nation will fade. America's strength has always been it's immigrants, it's tradition of offering hope to those looking for a new and better life. Right now, America has an image problem and that needs to be fixed.
americandream wrote:JPL wrote:Pops wrote:This was the new world, we had lots of resources, which we exploited for a profit.
We exploited oil and were for a while the leading producer.
Now we are not, just the leading debtor.
So what do we do now?
Well you've already had your revolution so I guess that's out of the question.
The resource base is still pretty good & there is a low population level so things can be fixed up OK. Also the social resources are there.
I think in 20 years time the USA, after the financial & post-oil industrial collapse, will still be a food exporter & a world power on maybe the scale that Brazil is today. A regional power, with an odd & interesting history.
There is nothing in this future to be ashamed about, & possibly a lot to look forward to. You never know...
JP
Cornucopianism is like a drug addiction. Not only has it afflicted the US, but now also the entire globe. I suspect that we will see a bumpy plateau of apathy as countries intent on replicating the American dream such as China, Russia and places such as Dubai, press on headlong to preserve and maintain the markets mechanisms created by free market corporate America. No country stands alone any longer.
GASMON wrote:Its a bugger, running the world, as the Romans, us Brits and now the Americans will testify.
Problem is (& was), nobody will do as they are told. (!!!!!!)
Gasmon
Pops wrote:I'm kind of a realistic optimist, things will change in a big way and not like any of us can foresee - they never have before.
I kind of have the idea that previous generations of the world saw us a rambunctious kids. We were fortunate and optimistic and who could blame us?
Over the last few decades though, I think we probably became seen as simply spoiled and most lately as the bully on the block.
Barring total war we'll still be here and we'll do alright but I doubt we'll ever be seen again as we were 50 or 60 years ago.
But that is just from the inside looking out.
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