Would the World be better off if the United States went into an extended economic decline?

[bryant69]

Poll question: Would the World be better off if the United States went into an extended economic decline?

One measured in years if not decades.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[aquart]

1. However, WE would not be better off.

And, shockingly, that's what matters to me.

[Zywiec]

3. Exactly!

I care more about the US' economic future. This is where I buy groceries and pay tuition.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Dude, the Clinton Patriot Police are about to come down on you for this.

Now you're going to have to type "God Bless America" 500 times.

[bryant69]

6. Better get started then

God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America God Bless America

I lost count.

[mikelewis]

4. The world would be better off if the United States went into extended moral incline...

One measured in centuries... if not eons. It's not the money that makes us this way... it's our lack of compassion for anything other than money is what damns us... the root of all evil is the "love of" money and not money itself. Somehow America became the Home of the Rich and the Land of the Powerful... so if that has to fade away... and that has to fade away... then good riddance. I am not afraid of poverty... I'm used to it... it's the wealthy and the inconsiderate that are going to have a rough time. I rejoice at high gas prices and relish the creaks and moans of a collapsing economic system that feeds off the weak and poor... good riddance to bad rubbish. America is not the Dollar... America is the people and we need to get back to that ASAP.

[flashl]

5. The question is not IF but WHEN ...

US enters 'checkbook war' with China

Recently, Bush visited Africa. While on the surface this was an expression of goodwill and an indication of US concern for African problems - poverty and the spread of pandemic disease, mostly - there were other purely pragmatic implications of the visit. One of these was Washington's attempt to counter China's growing influence. And in this competition with China, the US employs a weapon quite different from those used in Afghanistan and Iraq: the checkbook.

Financial and economic assistance was widely used during the Cold War. In fact, in Africa, as well as in other parts of the world, attachment to either "socialism" or "capitalism" was directly connected to the amount of cash or assistance received from the respective superpowers. And while the former Soviet Union could often prevail in the case of direct military confrontation between its proxy and the Americans' proxy, it usually failed when the checkbook was employed. The US could easily outspend its rival, as at the time it was engaged in a "checkbook war" on a global scale.

The problem with present-day moralizing is not due to any alleged increase in the US's moral sensitivity, but is much more related to the simple fact that US resources for a "cash war" are dwindling, at least in comparison to the war chests of the other players, such as China.

When International leaders met at the Davos conference recently, the international community removed the 'world's superpower' qualifier from America's name and did not name a successor.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. We're about to find out. The credit cards are maxed and the creditors want payment.

We've been relying on "the kindness of strangers" to loan us money to buy the goodies we consume. They now own us. We'll have to come up with dough somehow. Either pay them back in valueless greenbacks or (eek! death to politicians) raise taxes.

Or, continue to sell off assets to foreign corporations.

It's a helluva hangover this country is going to suffer for a long time.

The collapse of empires is a messy business.

[mnhtnbb]

8. The world would be better off if we stopped empire building and started

behaving responsibly toward the rest of the world by limiting our growth and sharing our resources, in other words, rejecting the right to be greedy Americans.

[trotsky]

9. It's tempting to say the world will be better off,

but that is absolutely false. Despite our faults we were (and are) still the #1 market for goods. EVERYONE sells to us. Our consumer spending is a huge chunk of just about every global company's bottom line. The US economy failing will cause global problems.

[whosinpower]

10. There will be a realignment

And, in the short term - it means bad news for everyone...however, if the #1 market is driven by CREDIT, or moneys borrowed against assets.....then the scenario becomes incredibly scary/illusion if those moneys cannot be repaid, or more importantly, if the world market loses faith in the US model's ability to repay its debts.
A nation can only prop up the US model for so long, and then it IMPORTS inflation, due to the falling US greenback. It is only a matter of time before they cut the US loose, cut their loses and put their money elsewhere.

Someone - a republican said - that deficits don't matter - guess again Einstein. IT DOES.

Having said all that - there will always be a market somewhere.

[KG]

11. the worlds environment could use a break.

[bryant69]

15. I don't know whether the collapse of our economy will bring that about n/t

[KG]

17. i'm thinking a collapse would a mean a reduction in consumption and

a slight easing of pressure on the environment, since the US is the world foremost polluter and consumer of energy.

[bryant69]

18. Where are you getting your statistics on our pollution? n/t

[librechik]

12. ...except we're likely to take everyone else down with us, unfortunately

not to be wished for. At all.

[bdamomma]

13. in regards to "taking the rest of the world down"

I would enjoy seeing that this administration/regime be taken out in a judiciary situation.

[librechik]

14. me too!

[Rex]

16. I'll take 'totally worse off' for the block.

Folks, how can you even vote for 'totally better off'? We will bring the entire planet down with us! I know I am one jaded asshole, but sheesh. I better try and crap a rainbow ASAP.