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The Decline of the "empire"
14 years ago
General
Recently I've been noticing and reading articles about the current state of the world and more so about the United States.
We've been number one in the world for most of the 20th century but it seems that is coming to an end. There are so many things today that just seem so be hurtling this country down the wrong path and eventually to collapse. I just feel like putting down all these thoughts I've been having lately so I'll be talking about a set of topics about what I think is going wrong and what I think needs to be done.
The first thing I would like to touch upon is China. China has skyrocketed as an economic force in the past few decades and is now the number 2 economy behind the US. What is interesting/troubling about this to me is that as western nations struggle to maintain economic power western rule of the world will shift over to eastern rule if things continue as they are as china is now, i believe, the largest workforce in the world. Now the shift from west to east dominance would be fine if it weren't for China's government. Their government is scary, they will do anything to prevent democracy as we know it from being establish and take anyone they deem a threat away never to be seen again. They censor the internet and god knows what else. And, as china becomes more modern and powerful, when will they become the new world military power? Right now that seems to be the only thing the US can show off to the world now that the economy is weak. If eastern powers were to take over just what would happen and how would the west handle it? I dont know, I mean maybe it wont be bad, but maybe it could be. I really dont know, it's all just speculation.
Of course i've also read things about how china will decline before it can even reach its full potential due to its extremely large population that is aging, much like our baby boomer population. But the problem with this is that these people in china make up the majority of their workforce and due to the one child laws over there, there are not enough younger people to fill in the places as well as care for the older population. So could china be it's own enemy?
Enough about china though, the US itself, i feel really needs to change. And the problem i foresee is with the younger generations along with my own generation. So many, not all, but many just dont care enough to do things for themselves, they expect things to be handed to them. Like with education, the public school system is shit, student don't care, a lot don't even want to be there and they don't respect teachers. Public schools do have some good to them, but if you want to get all you can from it, you have to go out and get it yourself, you have to get yourself to learn and do the work and seek knowledge, it is up to you to educate yourself. But that is something being lost.
What worries me though, is that its these people who just don't care who are going to be running things in the near future, given there are a good handful of us who do care and do work hard, but how much can this minority handle?
I dunno, i feel like i'm just rambling on about nonsense but i just can't help but wonder about these things.
Sometimes I actually think about being president and if i were, i wouldn't try to be everyone's friend like sir obama, you simply cant do that. What you need to do is focus on what is best for the country and focus on what needs to get done. And the shit going on between the political parties is just insane, all they do is fight like a bunch of old people who cant think right anymore and nothing important gets done. Instead its dumb shit like where's obama's birth certificate when hey how about where's the solutions to the economy and where's the jobs?.
As far as I'm concerned we are falling behind and we are too large of a government that can't get much done. America is loosing faith in its government and once that happens, and if faith isn't restored, then the people will protest, just like around the rest of the world and life as we know it will change.
If you actually read all of this then wow lol and if you have any opinions or input feel free to discuss them!
We've been number one in the world for most of the 20th century but it seems that is coming to an end. There are so many things today that just seem so be hurtling this country down the wrong path and eventually to collapse. I just feel like putting down all these thoughts I've been having lately so I'll be talking about a set of topics about what I think is going wrong and what I think needs to be done.
The first thing I would like to touch upon is China. China has skyrocketed as an economic force in the past few decades and is now the number 2 economy behind the US. What is interesting/troubling about this to me is that as western nations struggle to maintain economic power western rule of the world will shift over to eastern rule if things continue as they are as china is now, i believe, the largest workforce in the world. Now the shift from west to east dominance would be fine if it weren't for China's government. Their government is scary, they will do anything to prevent democracy as we know it from being establish and take anyone they deem a threat away never to be seen again. They censor the internet and god knows what else. And, as china becomes more modern and powerful, when will they become the new world military power? Right now that seems to be the only thing the US can show off to the world now that the economy is weak. If eastern powers were to take over just what would happen and how would the west handle it? I dont know, I mean maybe it wont be bad, but maybe it could be. I really dont know, it's all just speculation.
Of course i've also read things about how china will decline before it can even reach its full potential due to its extremely large population that is aging, much like our baby boomer population. But the problem with this is that these people in china make up the majority of their workforce and due to the one child laws over there, there are not enough younger people to fill in the places as well as care for the older population. So could china be it's own enemy?
Enough about china though, the US itself, i feel really needs to change. And the problem i foresee is with the younger generations along with my own generation. So many, not all, but many just dont care enough to do things for themselves, they expect things to be handed to them. Like with education, the public school system is shit, student don't care, a lot don't even want to be there and they don't respect teachers. Public schools do have some good to them, but if you want to get all you can from it, you have to go out and get it yourself, you have to get yourself to learn and do the work and seek knowledge, it is up to you to educate yourself. But that is something being lost.
What worries me though, is that its these people who just don't care who are going to be running things in the near future, given there are a good handful of us who do care and do work hard, but how much can this minority handle?
I dunno, i feel like i'm just rambling on about nonsense but i just can't help but wonder about these things.
Sometimes I actually think about being president and if i were, i wouldn't try to be everyone's friend like sir obama, you simply cant do that. What you need to do is focus on what is best for the country and focus on what needs to get done. And the shit going on between the political parties is just insane, all they do is fight like a bunch of old people who cant think right anymore and nothing important gets done. Instead its dumb shit like where's obama's birth certificate when hey how about where's the solutions to the economy and where's the jobs?.
As far as I'm concerned we are falling behind and we are too large of a government that can't get much done. America is loosing faith in its government and once that happens, and if faith isn't restored, then the people will protest, just like around the rest of the world and life as we know it will change.
If you actually read all of this then wow lol and if you have any opinions or input feel free to discuss them!
As for the military- I think this is a sketchy subject but not one even worth concern. As far as ground forces go I would say the Chinese are very likely up to par with us on equipment, probably better trained, and certainly have far greater manpower. Naval and Air Power? We could probably have superiority within a week. In the end none of this matters because we're talking about two modern nuclear powers. Force on force combat will probably never happen between us because it would end with everyone losing. What IS worth noting is that China's force projection capabilities are nowhere near that of the US- nor is any other nation's for that matter. Having a top notch military is one thing but the ability to deploy it readily and influence far off countries is another. The US has ground forces stationed in most of the world. We have a dozen carrier task forces which can be anywhere in the world in days- just one bringing to bear more firepower than most nations have in their entire arsenal. This is what distinguishes the US's military influence as global where as the PLA and most of the world are strictly regional. This has taken centuries to happen. It won't change.
The economy: I think the damage that has been done to the US economy is highly overstated. Our nation's GDP has been, and remains, a steady upwards trend. Through recessions, the loss of considerable manufacturing roles, and increased debt we still remain by any account an economically successful country. The subject of the debt right now is a real hot topic and I think what a lot of people forget is that our debt as a % of GDP is in fact notably lower than many other Western European nations. We're not in crisis mode right now and there's no need for us to be in crisis mode. The economy will be fine.
I can't disagree with your cometary on American society per se, but it's worth noting that every generation says the last one was better yet we continue to see progressive and positive trends. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the nation probably isn't going to collapse in on itself because when kids are in their teens they're more concerned with x-box than sociology and international politics.
And I'm sure the nation won't necessarily collapse but I do feel that there is big change on the horizon.
And you are part of the military police force correct? so you know much more about the military than I do lol.
About China, well, we owe them like 10 trillion that if we don't pay back they legally own all of our national parks and I think state parks too (where all our oil sits on), and if they stop funding us then WE HAVE NO MILITARY. China scares the shit out of me, in all honesty. They're fully capable of pulling the plug on everything that america represents and dismantling us as a nation. I guess I'll keep crossin mah fingers that they don't turn on us, and SOME fucking president out of the next few manages to find a way to start chipping away at that debt
As for our politicals,We're just a watered down version of our older selves. We represent ourselves even politically. Everyday it's the same thing. All we do is argue about this bill, that bill when there are people dying for a pointless war and diseases our money WON'T be put towards and why? BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICA THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL! Won't you leave your home to be just like us? Marry a beautiful woman, have two beautiful children and a dog. Bake apple pies, teach Johnny baseball and Susie how to sew.
NO what you DO get is a SHITTY HOME, You only know ONE of your parents at best, You fight to survive the month just BARELY. YOu go for weeks with no hot water or heat in your home. You don't learn to play baseball or how to sew, you learn to lie and to cheat and the art of deceit. You don't want to think this way, or be this way, BUT thats not the teaching of your parents. its your surroundings. It's the lowest your country can and will suffice to you. THIS is the best you can get. OH america the fucking beautiful!
AND WHAT ARE WE EVEN LIVING FOR!? WHY do we live here? Life is the same jsut about anywhere when you break it down.. WE are taught the same thing from the suburbs to the projects. WE make MONEY, we FUCK, we REPOPULATE. THE best we ever do is equalize and spread democracy which has been lost in an idiot game of telephone.
Nobody is ever happy anymore. Happiness is lost amongst the Profit Prophet and though we HAVE ideas NOBODY SPEAKS THEM OUT! NOBODY FUCKING FIGHTS! MOST are silent and the best we do? the best we do is "blog" about it.. WHO's going to hear that out? WHAT we need to do is STAND UP AND SHOUT. But what is it that the parents say? WHAT is it that the leaders say? "BURN HIM! Radical behavior"
OUR ACTIONS are and will always be L O U D E R.
(On an unrelated note: This was a bit difficult to read. No disrespect meant; It's just that the paragraphs are slightly clumped together, sir.)