How Long Will America Lead the World?

[ChocolateCitySkin]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13123358/site/newsweek/

How Long Will America Lead the World?

The United States is still the dominant force in technology, innovation, productivity and profits. But Americans don't quite realize how fast the rest of the world is catching up.

By Fareed Zakaria

Newsweek

June 12, 2006 issue - Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, held in London on June 22, 1897, was one of the grandest fetes the world has ever seen: 46,000 troops and 11 colonial prime ministers arrived from the four corners of the earth to pay homage to their sovereign. The event was as much a celebration of Victoria's 60 years on the throne as it was of Britain's superpower status. In 1897, Queen Victoria ruled over a quarter of the world's population and a fifth of its territory, all connected by the latest marvel of British technology, the telegraph, and patrolled by the Royal Navy, which was larger than the next two navies put together. "The world took note," says the historian Karl Meyer. The New York Times gushed: "We are a part ... of the Greater Britain which seems so plainly destined to dominate

[Henry]

I think we do realize.

[Spaceman Spiff]

By lead the world, do you mean worlds babysitter?

[@DCGoldPants]

I think we do realize.

I don't think our elected officials realize it.

[ChocolateCitySkin]

Zakaria makes a compelling point that we do have the flexibility and resourcefulness to retain our edge -- his comments about the 4 - 2 - 1 would suggest that we could be in a better long term situation than china and india provided we don't close our border like some politicians would have...

[Prosperity]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13123358/site/newsweek/

How Long Will America Lead the World?

The United States is still the dominant force in technology, innovation, productivity and profits. But Americans don't quite realize how fast the rest of the world is catching up.

By Fareed Zakaria

Newsweek

June 12, 2006 issue - Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, held in London on June 22, 1897, was one of the grandest fetes the world has ever seen: 46,000 troops and 11 colonial prime ministers arrived from the four corners of the earth to pay homage to their sovereign. The event was as much a celebration of Victoria's 60 years on the throne as it was of Britain's superpower status. In 1897, Queen Victoria ruled over a quarter of the world's population and a fifth of its territory, all connected by the latest marvel of British technology, the telegraph, and patrolled by the Royal Navy, which was larger than the next two navies put together. "The world took note," says the historian Karl Meyer. The New York Times gushed: "We are a part ... of the Greater Britain which seems so plainly destined to dominate

I would hope the rest of the world is catching up, the more productive the world is on the whole the more likely we are to benefit from it. On the topic of technology, would you care if the next great invention was made by an Indian or whoever, that much? I mean, if the rest of the world wasn't catching up then we couldn't benefit from their hard work through trade as much as we can now. I say it is about time, and overall production growth throughout the globe is something to be celebrated.

[Ghost of]

I mean, if the rest of the world wasn't catching up then we couldn't benefit from their hard work through trade as much as we can now. I say it is about time, and overall production growth throughout the globe is something to be celebrated.

Agreed. So long as a general embrace of classical liberal ideas (even if there is a patina of democratic socialism) like capitalism and republicanism and individual sovereignty, there is nothing to fear.

Unfortunately, Germany and Japan were both producing out their behinds before WW II. There must be an embrace of those principles otherwise the specter of extreme nationalism, bigotry and sectarian violence will always hover in the background driving quite LEGITIMATE fears of countries without our cultural heritage becoming too powerful.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I would hope the rest of the world is catching up, the more productive the world is on the whole the more likely we are to benefit from it. On the topic of technology, would you care if the next great invention was made by an Indian or whoever, that much? I mean, if the rest of the world wasn't catching up then we couldn't benefit from their hard work through trade as much as we can now. I say it is about time, and overall production growth throught the globe is something to be celebrated.

"When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost...because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans..."

[PleaseBlitz]

"When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost...because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans..."

Unfortunately, the thought of losing is no longer hateful to Americans. We as a society are a lot softer than in George's time. :mad:

Proof is all around us every day.

[nelms]

This country will fall as other empires have fallen. I give us 100 more years, tops, of being the bad boys on the block before the entire empire collapses. We've already started the moral decline, so it may even happen quicker than that.

[dwbiggs]

If the world can phase out dictatorships and religous zealot based governments thus decreasing the chance that we will destroy ourselves, then yes, the rest of the world catching up can be a good thing.

Dan

[prophet]

a couple terror attacks on our land and its over...

[Cdowwe]

As long as Im dead by the time American becomes some other country's b**ch, I really dont care.

[spjunkies]

As long as Im dead by the time American becomes some other country's b**ch, I really dont care.

Why did you have to take my answer? :mad:

[AJ_Skins]

There is a very simple answer. In Asia, the schools are teaching the Pythagorean theorem in elementary school. In America, the schools are teaching "Heather Has Two Mommies" in elementary school. Do you think Asian schools give a crap about their students' "self-esteem"? Bottom line: 40 years later, the jury is still out on whether the country will survive the 1960s. Once the baby boomers die off, we'll find out the answer.

[ChocolateCitySkin]

sigh i love how people comment without having actually read the article...

[DjTj]

There is a very simple answer. In Asia, the schools are teaching the Pythagorean theorem in elementary school. In America, the schools are teaching "Heather Has Two Mommies" in elementary school. Do you think Asian schools give a crap about their students' "self-esteem"? Bottom line: 40 years later, the jury is still out on whether the country will survive the 1960s. Once the baby boomers die off, we'll find out the answer.

By grad school, the best of those Asian students are in America TA'ing our science classes and doing the grunt work for our government-funded research.

As long as we continue to fund the sciences and keep our borders open to foreign students, we will reap the benefits of Asia's strong education system. That's what Zakaria pointed out in the article.

[ashburnskinsfan]

By grad school, the best of those Asian students are in America TA'ing our science classes and doing the grunt work for our government-funded research.

As long as we continue to fund the sciences and keep our borders open to foreign students, we will reap the benefits of Asia's strong education system. That's what Zakaria pointed out in the article.

I have a lot of faith in the best of American technology, education and capital markets being able to take on the rest of the world.

The biggest threat to America is the growth in government, the debt that has accompanied it, and the risk of immigration policies keeping out the best and brightest in the world, as well as foreign investment.

[ChocolateCitySkin]

I have a lot of faith in the best of American technology, education and capital markets being able to take on the rest of the world.

The biggest threat to America is the growth in government, the debt that has accompanied it, and the risk of immigration policies keeping out the best and brightest in the world, as well as foreign investment.

I totally agree our immigration policies consistently make me nervous...

Moreover, not simply just the best and the brightest but our constant influx of people. As Zakarias pointed out the 4-2-1 problem that will eventually occur in China -- That could be absolutely devastating far worse than what will happen in Europe -- We have an advantage in this regard. Providing we don't let the ignorant masses decide to keep "dem yeller fellers out."

[AJ_Skins]

I totally agree our immigration policies consistently make me nervous...

Moreover, not simply just the best and the brightest but our constant influx of people. As Zakarias pointed out the 4-2-1 problem that will eventually occur in China -- That could be absolutely devastating far worse than what will happen in Europe -- We have an advantage in this regard. Providing we don't let the ignorant masses decide to keep "dem yeller fellers out."

You are either ignorant, or being deliberately disingenuous. The issue of highly skilled, well educated immigrants has nothing to do with the influx from Mexico through illegal immigration over the border.

In the case of high skilled jobs, it is the people in those same positions here (high tech, engineering, etc.) who lobby against it, because those coming in from Asia are willing to work for less.

Again, the trampling of our border and immigration laws from the south is a separate issue.

[Thanos]

Somethings got to give.Defiecits,GWOT,immigration,steady decline in the sciences, outsourcing,tens of millions uninsured.Let's be real its fraying at the edges.I say if a prolonged recession or depression comes along within a decade everyone's standard of living will go down.

[ChocolateCitySkin]

You are either ignorant, or being deliberately disingenuous. The issue of highly skilled, well educated immigrants has nothing to do with the influx from Mexico through illegal immigration over the border.

In the case of high skilled jobs, it is the people in those same positions here (high tech, engineering, etc.) who lobby against it, because those coming in from Asia are willing to work for less.

Again, the trampling of our border and immigration laws from the south is a separate issue.

Yeah Ok.

[Midnight Judges]

I think we do realize.

yeah, I'm pretty sure I realize it too. I'll ask around maybe we are the perceptive ones.

[Gallntfox]

As long as Im dead by the time American becomes some other country's b**ch, I really dont care.

Spoken by someone who must not care about our children or grandchildren. :doh:

[skinfan133]

I don't think our elected officials realize it.

then dont elect them