If the US is truly in decline then what next?

[tjinaz]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16843382/site/newsweek/

Saw this today and wanted to see what others thought?

There can be no disputing the rise of China and India as players on the world stage as well as the decline of Europe. What do you think happens next?

[metallicat]

I don't know. I've only got 50 some years left, what do I care anymore?

[FlamesAddiction]

If power does shift dramatically, then what happens next depends on what the remaining powers want.

Neither India nor China have shown a desire for global aspirations the way certain Western powers have. Unless that changes, then I can see a return to isolationalism. I hope so anyway.

[Coelah]

Things would probably turn towards what William Gibson foresaw, corporations becoming the dominate voice in global affairs.

[Looger]

i remember hearing once that in 1905 the #1 and #2 economies in the world were india and china.

not sure if that's true, but i wonder if the really real world is simply catching up to the west, and the last century has been an abberation.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Coelah

Things would probably turn towards what William Gibson foresaw, corporations becoming the dominate voice in global affairs.

Becoming?

Corperations have been a key power for centuries. The thirst for currency has been a trigger point probably since someone invented currency.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Becoming?

Corperations have been a key power for centuries. The thirst for currency has been a trigger point probably since someone invented currency.

and corporations and government have been vying for power ever since. Right now it seems that the corporations have the upper hand and this becomes scary when we have problems like Iraq and global warming to contend with. Corporate aims are not always in synch with a thinking human being.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If power does shift dramatically, then what happens next depends on what the remaining powers want.

Neither India nor China have shown a desire for global aspirations the way certain Western powers have. Unless that changes, then I can see a return to isolationalism. I hope so anyway.

Agreed, the problem is China is in worse shape than the US when it comes to dependency on oil. At the moment they havent been doing any of the heavy lifting, also they dont care about the political situations in the countries (via dictator etc) so long as the oil flows.

I also hope the US turns to a more of an isolationist policy. Let the ME/Africa/SE Asia fend for themselves and pull all Armed forces out of Europe - they are not needed anymore.

MYK

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

and corporations and government have been vying for power ever since. Right now it seems that the corporations have the upper hand and this becomes scary when we have problems like Iraq and global warming to contend with. Corporate aims are not always in synch with a thinking human being.

I'm not sure if I understand the context you are putting this in. You make it sound like this relationship has just changed. I don't think it has. The elite's desire for cash has always been out of line with the average thinking man (although completely in synch with the upper class' thinking man). This problem isn't endemic to just this generation and this generation's leadership.

[Sparks]

^^
It's probably always been that way, but considering our advanced technology (vs. 100 or even 50 years ago, to some degree), it could be a much bigger issue than in the past, especially with regards to the problems Vulcan brought up.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

The elite's desire for cash has always been out of line with the average thinking man .

You think poor people don't desire cash?

The experience of life is that money itself actually isn't important . . . . unless you don't have it.

Then its very important.

The sci-fi philosophical trilogy "Red Mars," "Green Mars," "Blue Mars" is, among other things, an interesting look at an Earth ruled by corporations as envisaged by an obviously left-leaning author . . . essentially envisioning the same world Vulcan might believe is before us. About 2000 pages of reading though. Great fun though.

Cowperson

[Lurch]

The sci-fi philosophical trilogy "Red Mars," "Green Mars," "Blue Mars" is, among other things, an interesting look at an Earth ruled by corporations as envisaged by an obviously left-leaning author . . . essentially envisioning the same world Vulcan might believe is before us. About 2000 pages of reading though. Great fun though.

I read this, and remember the tortuous description of how the Martian 'gift' economy worked. Truly bizarre, but yes, a mostly good read.

[eazyduzzit]

United States = Nothing without China.

China = Nothing without the United States.

China relies heavy on global imports to support it's population and growth. As far as i know, it's land isn't very rich in much of anything. I don't believe China can ever become a global power given these circumstances, all it needs is to get on bad terms with a few countries and it won't have the resources or means to operate as a global power.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by eazyduzzit

United States = Nothing without China.

China = Nothing without the United States.

China relies heavy on global imports to support it's population and growth. As far as i know, it's land isn't very rich in much of anything. I don't believe China can ever become a global power given these circumstances, all it needs is to get on bad terms with a few countries and it won't have the resources or means to operate as a global power.

I don't know the complete list of natural resources in China but I do know that they have at least quite a bit of coal. The major thing I see holding China back is corruption in government.
And I believe they already are on bad terms with a couple countries, USA and Japan.

[eazyduzzit]

Originally Posted by CarlW

I don't know the complete list of natural resources in China but I do know that they have at least quite a bit of coal. The major thing I see holding China back is corruption in government.
And I believe they already are on bad terms with a couple countries, USA and Japan.

Coal dosen't power a 21st century global power.

[Cowperson]

A discussion relevant to the topic . . . . America's hyperpower status is discussed throughout.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...0.html?cnn=yes

Cowperson

[eazyduzzit]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

A discussion relevant to the topic . . . . America's hyperpower status is discussed throughout.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...0.html?cnn=yes

Cowperson

Thats one plus side to China.

I believe they have the largest hydro power capabilities in the world.