So how Long will This last: How would you define the US Global Political and Economic Position Today and Moving into the Next Half Century?

[shlomo]

I'll never believe that any educated person actually believes that the Socialist and Communist economic models will work. There's only one economic model that has proven it works. Even with all it's flaws, Capitalism made the greatest country the world has ever known, and Socialism is going to bring it to its knees.

I believe that communism works. I don't blame communism for not working, I blame the people in power of a communist nation for making it not work due to corruption and greed. I really believe that the socialist/communist model would work wonderfully in a small scale society where every cent is more easily accountable and the anonymity and secrecy aspect are virtually eliminated.

[Maplepie]

I really believe that the socialist/communist model would work wonderfully in a small scale society where every cent is more easily accountable and the anonymity and secrecy aspect are virtually eliminated.

Exactly.

Communism for Communes. (Kiribati, Nauru, etc)

Socialism for Societies. (Nordic Nations, Switzerland, etc)

Giant ******* mashes of WTF for Large Nations (China, India, America, etc)

[SaintLuis]

I believe that communism works. I don't blame communism for not working, I blame the people in power of a communist nation for making it not work due to corruption and greed. I really believe that the socialist/communist model would work wonderfully in a small scale society where every cent is more easily accountable and the anonymity and secrecy aspect are virtually eliminated.

How on earth do you lump socialist and communist together into the same sentence?

How is this even on topic??

Maybe you should start a political ideology thread somewhere else? Or an "I believe in systems that have only led to human death, destruction, starvation, disease and poverty" thread.

Good luck with that one.

[AlohaStyle]

21 more posts to go! lol

[ptrthgr8]

Slave labor is modern day prison labor, privatized prisons are big business in the USA. They produce goods such as furniture. Companies still out source and pay garbage, pennies a day for foreign "labor". Companies are world wide and working conditions in these lands is sub human in many instances. Forget safety and regulation. Slave labor is alive and well.

Can you cite a source that shows just how much of the US GNP or GDP is attributed to this "slave" labor? I'm sure it's pretty insignificant compared to all the other channels of ouput.

Also, the vast majority of people in prison today are there because they broke a law of some sort. We can argue the pros/cons of the current legal system that creates so many criminals and I'd probably largely agree with you, but equating the output of slavery from the the mid-19th Century and before to whatever comparatively small output is made by the convicted criminals in prisons today is a really big stretch.

[Laxman]

Good call where the heck does communism fit into this topic. It was tried and it failed miserably. Not a fan of socialism either but a whole different spectrum then communism not to be mentioned in the same breath.

Anyways back to topic. Japan not too long ago looked like it was going to break out and become a super power. They were buying up everything in site. Pictures of beautiful new buildings and new wave transportation trumped the US at the time but look how that turned out. The fact of the matter is that the Communist Party of China is the underlying ruler everything seems to funnel through them. Would rather bet on the US 25 years down the road then the Communist Party of China. Only time will tell as anything is possible.

[Cmontoya79]

I've tried the math, and my crappy American education doesn't compute. Current GDP is 16.2 trillion, current profit for us private prisons is 37 billion annual, current education budget spending is 69.8 billion. Current budget for defense 580 billion. I am not stating that we currently survive and thrive economically from prisons and free labor. I am simply stating that slave labor does still exist. Sources: congressional budget office, department of education website, world bank website and google profit for private prisons sources many articles with 37 billion profit for private prisons. These figures pale in comparison to what's budgeted to health and human services. 2013 budget is 873,535 to cover Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and other social welfare programs make up a whopping 15.6% of this sum. Source is HHS.gov. More spending will not solve a thing, a systems wide policy overhaul along with investing re prioritization could save the future.

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[LLC]

Not an expert but I think the US influence is still very strong but slowly getting weaker and that is likely to continue. As countries like China get bigger their influence will increase and in general with a global community because if the internet and social media it causes any one influence to be less important.

[Troels]

At work they had arranged a day of lextures last year on the global economy in wich we should see our City ( I work in public administration) - one of the lectures was held by a Singapore based professor in economy. He told about recent relations between the chinese and American economy, and in relation to this how the American federal loans was to a great extend taken in China. As a respons to a subsequent question he suggested that the consequenses of the American State having that heavy debt to China was that China would have a serious influence on American foreign policy in areas that is strategecly important to China. China will not want a bankrupcy of the American State, as its a vital business partner, but they will use as tool to affect global policy.

In addition to that he said that the American civil society is still very strong, but the State is on its knees.

The statement seemed rather provocing to me me, and I earnestly didnt know what to make of it, but from what i've read in the news since i've not been able to say its wrong

[Jason55555]

As US recovers the political consequences of the US economy’s gaining strength will be felt just take a look at the FX market as the US dollar strengthens. US pickle is making sure this new economic revival stays, and it will require greater reluctance to intervene in foreign conflicts or engage in new wars.

Guys in Washington know this already that’s why you see that the support for the Arab Spring uprisings after Egypt uprising just stopped. American did say a word after Egypt, Syria ok maybe they made it seem like they care but they stopped getting involved.

Now I believe that US former rival Russia is struggling to restore its country to its former glory, they want the power to shift to the Pacific region (China,Russia,Etc) but there is so many of the ex-Soviet countries floating around so they now have to start poking at countries that they can influence aka Ukraine so that they can consolidate Russia into a more economic and political powerhouse.

This now brings us to the US foreign policy priorities, they have shifted to the Asia-Pacific region, this is where their economic, political and security challenges are aka North Korean missiles and rising tensions between China and its neighbors over competing sovereignty.

Although the weight of global politics and economics is shifting more from the Atlantic to the Pacific it would be crazy to downplay the US role in the next half century. The US will continue to play a leading role dominating the world military and economically.

[stogieluver]

Speaks to the civility of this membership, and the influence of our Prez, that we have had such a discourse on a hot political topic without personal attacks!

I'm so proud to be a member of this board. Cheers, everyone!

(Okay, I've contributed twice now to try to get us to the majic 150 posts count. I've done my part.)

[Stogiedude3]

Cant believe this hasnt gone south? Alot of great points. I wish my head didnt hurt thinkin about it!

I feel that the american dream has changed an awful lot since I was a kid. One big problem we have here on the US is Giant government.

Awe never mind. Im goin outside to enjoy some forbidden fruit that Im not suppose to have because somebody said we cant!

[finecigar]

Also surprised this hasn't gone south... Have thoroughly enjoyed reading through all of these and looking at each and every perspective here. Especially when taking in to account international members who've only visited the US occasionally. Living here is quite different than a visit so I see this difference in replies but also there seems to be a common thread that lies behind most posts. Great job guys!

[earthson]

I'd imagine every American that purchases a CC anywhere in the world is consciously voting AGAINST US influence.

True patriots smoke Gurkhas and Dominican Partagas.

[shlomo]

How on earth do you lump socialist and communist together into the same sentence?

How is this even on topic??

Maybe you should start a political ideology thread somewhere else? Or an "I believe in systems that have only led to human death, destruction, starvation, disease and poverty" thread.

Good luck with that one.

It is a continuation of a discussion and my personal opinion. Why are you trying to drag this thread into the mud with your highly antagonistic comments?

[Duxnutz]

Back on course:

It's widely accepted that the US spend too much on its military, but its also a fact that military spending is what has boosted the economy and provided technological advances to society.

How much do you think is a reasonable number to cut? 10%, 20%, 50%???

[kwsaw63]

......Although the weight of global politics and economics is shifting more from the Atlantic to the Pacific it would be crazy to downplay the US role in the next half century. The US will continue to play a leading role dominating the world military and economically.

I agree that the US will continue to be a global superpower BUT it will no longer be the only superpower - a position it has enjoyed over the last 2 decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union. China has acquired the economic clout to challenge the US (thanks to American & European companies moving their production there and thereby injecting money into China's economy) and is using it's economic strength to acquire the ability to challenge the US in the military field as well.

It will take another 2 decades or so before China is the equal of the US militarily but that day will come. I for one am apprehensive of that outcome as I do not believe the Chinese will be as restrained as the US in exercising it's military strength. Just look at all their recent provocations in the South China Sea. Go back a little more to 1979 and look at their invasion of Vietnam.

[shlomo]

I dont understand why so many agree that the US spends too much on its military...? They are at the top of the food chain and everyone is gunning for them. Security for its citizens is a priority. Safety and health for all members of the military are very important and technological advances and research and development with military applications need to stay ahead of the game, otherwise they will be in big trouble.

[CanuckSARTech]

...So if we use this principal of strong economy = strong military = superpower to guide us, I think the USA will remain as a superpower for the next decade or so. However, China is rapidly closing the gap economically and will have essentially caught up with the USA by 2020. It will take China some time to translate it's economic power into military power but it should be reasonable for it to equal the USA militarily by 2030.

...It will take another 2 decades or so before China is the equal of the US militarily but that day will come. I for one am apprehensive of that outcome as I do not believe the Chinese will be as restrained as the US in exercising it's military strength. Just look at all their recent provocations in the South China Sea. Go back a little more to 1979 and look at their invasion of Vietnam.

I agree very much with the above two thoughts. So do a number of worldpower planners, I'm positing. I think it'd be pretty reasonable to say that there's likely a number of Canadians that are concerned about what outcome we may see in another 20 or 30 years should there be a military meeting of these two. I for one don't wish to see Canada used as a speedbump in any cross-Artic exploits, and its readily acknowledged that our natural resources are getting more and more enviable as the years move forward.

I think that the major plan for the U.S. for the next two decades or so needs to be one of "world training for the Next Us". They need to fully acknowledge that it's unsustainable for them to continue to be the world police and be the military counter-balance for the world as a whole. They need to focus on rebuilding their nation - on getting a healthy education system again, backing off from the excessive military spending, figuring out the balance of universal-healthcare-versus-over-capatalism, etc. And, to do that they need to look in the mirror and say....I cannot be the sherriff forever, and I must start to groom and mentor my replacement.

China looks likely. And that scares some (rightly so). The U.S. has to fix and groom that relationship so it will be a proper transition of power, and not a new bully moving in on the block.

[Paul3]

I am Active Duty Army, going on 18 years now and I have always been curious on individuals opinions on what people mean when they say another country, China in this example, will be "equal" to the U.S. military. I don't ask in the barrel chested freedom fighter come knock me off this hill fashion, more out of curiosity as to the level of warfighting education/knowledge my civilian counterparts have. In the past I've heard answers ranging from, their fighters will match ours, or they've acquired stealth technology, and the always present 1 billion to our 350 million (roughly). I often wonder when people put forth these answers are they considering the full spectrum military operation or a ***-for-tat, man v man, trench warfare style engagement.

I have two opinions on the answer to my own question. The first is I believe, admitting bias, that it will be a very long time before any nation matches the superiority of the U.S. military: caveat that with likely update to my opinion as the budget and personnel cuts from our military take effect, the effect on morale is already tangible. Second, I believe if we ever face off with China it will be cyber warfare, perhaps as a precursor to "traditional" warfare, which has potential for inflicting vast amounts of damage in ways that bullets and bombs could never do. Again just my humble opinion.

Great conversations...almost hope it doesn't stop at post #150....almost.

[Paul3]

I dont understand why so many agree that the US spends too much on its military...? They are at the top of the food chain and everyone is gunning for them. Security for its citizens is a priority. Safety and health for all members of the military are very important and technological advances and research and development with military applications need to stay ahead of the game, otherwise they will be in big trouble.

We do spend huge amounts of money on our military and I would not be the first to stand up and say the first thing that needs to stop is the amount of waste and lack of accountability. One does not need to look too deeply to see massive amounts of waste, due to poorly managed programs, unnecessary expenditures and contractual regulations that hamstring any hope of efficiency.

[Ken Gargett]

i've been co-opted by our very own house of cards dictator to say something that will get this thread closed down before 150 posts and save him his cigar.

i will, however, refuse and stand firm with the masses against the yolk of tyrannical dictatorship under which we find ourselves (while qualifying for the draw).

[Habana Mike]

I think the US impact on the global economy will have potentially catastrophic effects when the Fed eventually unwinds its quantitative easing programs, the deficit exceeds the GDP, and the ability to service their dept exceeds their ability to print money fast enough resulting in a complete collapse of their economy.

[Paul3]

i've been co-opted by our very own house of cards dictator to say something that will get this thread closed down before 150 posts and save him his cigar.

i will, however, refuse and stand firm with the masses against the yolk of tyrannical dictatorship under which we find ourselves (while qualifying for the draw).

Ken, for your much appreciated insolence toward El Presidente's devious instructions to derail our efforts in courtesy and respect I promise if I win that fine cigar....I'll split it with you!

[canadianbeaver]

Could not help myself. #150.

Just drove back and forth, 4 hours for 3 hour Passover dinner in Toronto with 21 family members. They sat around the table, the politician at one end and did not fight about politics either.

Three generations of family with different issues including health care, education costs, housing costs, job shortages, and a whackadoodle 72-year old aunt who came close to hitting on my daughter's 23 year old boyfriend.

Only thing missing was someone in the military, like that was going to happen. Yeah right.

The US(or Canadian) political/economic positions can be discussed until we are blue in the face. We can vote the best solution in or out, but seems to me we have to do the best with what we've got and take responsibility for our own future..