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Decline
Topic Started: Jun 5 2006, 04:49 AM (157 Views)
cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
From How Long Will America Lead the World?:
Quote:
 
Our greatest danger is that when the American public does begin to get scared, they will try to shut down the very features of the country that have made it so successful. They will want to shut out foreign companies, be less welcoming to immigrants and close themselves off from competition and collaboration. Over the past year there have already been growing paranoia on all these fronts. If we go down this path, we will remain a rich country and a stable one. We will be less troubled by the jarring changes that the new world is pushing forward. But like Britain after Queen Victoria's reign, it will be a future of slow, steady national decline. History will happen to us after all.



...he not busy being born is busy dying
--Bob Dylan, "It's Alright, Ma"
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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Banandangees
Member
"But like Britain after Queen Victoria's reign, it will be a future of slow, steady national decline."

Will it be a slow steady national decline or will China pass us as though we were standing still. China seems to have acquired few enemies lately. They just keep truckin along like a shark with no natural enemies, excepting for the "squid," and I'm not sure who the squid is. On the other hand, the U.S. does much to add to its list of enemies, not to mention our decay from within..politically fed - keeping us static - while the band plays and China is learning new dances. Russia is another potential enemy by lack of cooperation. And why should they or China. Our loss is their gain. There was a great article in the WSJ last week (where else) titled " Over a Barrel" by a William P. Kucewicz listing the reason why a U.N. sanctions would affect Iran far more than the U.S. and the west. The reasons he listed seemed valid. However, it counted on Russia and China going along. We know they won't and he mentioned, without them Europe won't truck on. So, it will be back to the U.S. Iraq type thing. What does China have to lose with Iran having a nuke system? To tell you the truth, the U.S. (and Canada( could use a good kick in the a$$. Maybe it would wake us up in time.

But, the U.S. (and Canada) are too busy with petty stuff. And the band plays on.

But won't our decline be par for the democracy course. 200 years or so and out. We're over due.
Banan
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pentax
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Kamloops - BC Interior
So true, banan.... when you look at history through the Ages, NO culture or nation has stayed atop the pile forever - NONE. In fact, I'm trying to think of one that even managed a second, separate kick-at-the-cat....

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"Kirk to Enterprise - Very funny, Scotty.... now beam down my clothes!"
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Right, for the very reasons Zakaria explores in his article. Because, imo, we're fast losing the limited government republic for a big government democracy.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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