Could America be declining?
414320
America is currently facing many problems, however a drastic decline in it's power is doubtful.  According to most rankings that take into account all aspects of a nation, The usa is by far the most powerful, and is more powerful than the second and third most powerful countries combined.  However, if our country continues on its current trend yes there will be problems.  Our currency is depreciating, and the gap between rich and poor is growing under the current administration, and there is also talk of starting our third war in this regime.  The only reason why i think that America won't decline though is because the Republicans will have nobody else to blame after this term, and once they are voted out these problems will be addressed.  The republicans control everything now and have lost their scapegoat.  The only people they have to blame our themselves.
810875
That's a fair break down.  The Great American melting pot has become the The Great American melt down.\n\nBOILING POT!
1056033
The Project for a New American Century is about to fall apart.  The world is headed back to a multi-polar world, not very stable and it will be compounded by the loss of the dollar as the reserve currency of the world and the peaking of oil.  We're in for a bumpy ride. :(
474898
I think it could become a reality.  I know alot of people will get ticked about this, but I think the place to see a system of government that is the closest to that is France/Germany.  The thought police are alive and well there, and remember, our crappy economy is not our fault, it's the evil Americans fault.
918842
Nope.  In fact, as is typical of short sighted america, our actions while having the intent of bringing stability to the region, actually brought significant instability.
1135952
Nope, and they won't, as long as they run morons like Kerry, Americans in general are very intelligent, and as long as the democrats, keep putting up  morons, without a smart agenda, they will continue to lose. but the real loser is America. As long as we have politictions that are more worried about their careers than what is good for America. We all lose.
33634
i dont know that I see it as the next third world.  But I do see it slumping close to it.  We are as a nation losing power, wealth, reputation.  I have been abroad and I can tell you the picture that Europeans paint of us is not always nice.  Economically we are losing our footing.  Banking, cars, products in general.  People in america and abroad are buying European products, Jananese proiducts.  It doesnt do our economy any good and yet as far as I can tell they have done nothing to change this.  We are busy fixing the lives of others however we havent taken the time to take care of our own citizens lives.  And you have other countries offering us help becase we are unable to do so because of the mess we have created else where.  I truly believe we are losing our super power status and becoming just another country that exists on the planet.  Living abroad I dont like telling people i am from america because it starts up alot of contoversy.  Alot of arguments as to what it means to be an american and what we have become.  I agree with you when you wake up and smell the coffee. you arent smelling folgers any more.  Its just the reality we are forced to swallow as americans and it isnt easy for us I think.
301916
To all those looking at USA and hoping it goes down, please take note that if we in the USA go down we will not go down quietly. It is not our style. \n\nWe will almost certainly take down some large fraction of the rest of the world with us. That is not a threat or even a wish, it is just realism.\n\nHope for the USA to change? Fine, I'm with you. Hope for the USA to lighten/loosen up a bit on world affairs? I don't agree, but I understand why you feel that way. Hope for the USA to go down, to fall, to fail? You are asking for one whole pile of worldwide collateral damage. So watch out.
550986
The world would descend into chaos, possibly another Dark Age.  The United States is simply the greatest force for good on earth.
249156
No, or America might invade.
770460
If this nation still exists in its present form, and if this nation is not flat broke, current trends will continue.  Voters will elect whoever promises the most goodies.  No one will care how, or when, we will pay for them.  That's part of the "....lack to commit to anything...." that you mentioned. \n\nWe have an opportunity to become like a Third World Country in 30 years.  That will go nicely with the American Presidency, which is really a constitutionally weak office.
1074302
There are cyclical theorists that have charted American history in 80-year cycles (I recommend the book "The Fourth Turning" by William Strauss and Neil Howe).  If their 80-year cycles hold true, then the U.S. will face another Great Depression/World War II-level crisis within the next 5-15 years.  Every time the U.S. faces a crisis like this, it runs the risk of bringing about the end of our nation (or at least as we know it.)  How long will Pax Americana last?  No idea, but we'll have our next challenge soon.
536174
I do think we're slipping.  It's not really a bad thing.  I'd rather the USA be a good citizen of the world...not leader of the world.
466631
No, especially considering the fact that would make the average American a hypocrite.\n\nWhoops, already happened.
36074
I asked a question similar to this several weeks ago.  When looking at the similar patterns of history (such as the fall of Rome), it is apparent that the US will fall just as the Romans did.  \n\nAlthough many people in the US are unable to see how close they are to the greed, ego-centricism, denial and arrogance of ancient Roman culture, perhaps it will become more apparent when the society starts to fail and becomes lost.
1072558
I wish I knew let me know if you find out, America is getting ugly(owned by corporations and big fat old Oil maniacs) and oh so unstable.
402525
Only less americans are SMART