re: #206 freetoken

Not sure about the long term progress against racism. It’s such an endemic problem in human societies.

We (the US) certainly have made progress these last 50 years or so, especially in regards to the treatment of African descendent populations.

But, as ggt points out, this time has also been one of unparalleled economic boom in the US, which brought not just plenty of work, food, and shelter to most Americans, but also luxuries such as vacations and entertainment. The overwhelming attitude of American society post WWII has been upbeat, looking toward the future, etc.

What if the “declinists” (and I hate that word but that is the word that Santorum is using, inappropriately, against Obama) are correct, and that the US will slowly fade just like our predecessor the British Empire has done?

I think we are better situated for the next 100 years than many nations, but I believe that many Americans are being forced to give up hopes and aspirations, even if previously unarticulated, and that is discouraging many people.

Even though “Tea Party” gatherings are declining in numbers there are plenty of disaffected people out there. If political disenfranchisement becomes widespread there’s always the possibility of a movement/leader rising up that will grasp the opportunity to get power, and the tool for doing that will likely be to blame the “other”. In this case I doubt the “other” will be black people, or even Mexicans. Rather, I suspect it will be the Chinese.

Listening to people like Cain and Bachmann (or Bolton or …) and how willingly they want the US to engage in all-or-nothing tactics in foreign affairs is frightening.

I think it would be hard for us to go the way of the British Empire. We don’t have colonies to lose.

We are unlike any country past or present. The world is unlike it has ever been. We are a global economy. We have global diplomatic corps -per se-in the United Nations. Transportation, communications are all global now.

Like it or not, each country has to think globally while maintaining sovereignty within it’s own borders. National integrity is important. Much like our States vs Federal constant struggles.

I do think the US is going to have to accept that our “greatness” is going to seem less as the rest of the world develops IN OUR IMAGE. We have to accept that other countries might do some things better than we do. We have to step up to the plate if we want to compete in a world we have have had a large hand in developing.

It’s a tough game, but we did a lot to create it. Our children may and probably will have to find work in other countries. We will have to be bi- or tri- lingual to compete.

Welcome to the Brave New World!