The United States does not have the natural resources to sustain its disproportional power in the world forever, nor does it have a national committment to sustained technological prowess which could at least partially compensate for this limitation. We had a great run, but it can't last.

Having said that, the U.S. is so far ahead of any other country that it will remain the sole superpower for the rest of our lifetimes--the only nation that could possibly sustain a long-term, major war on the other side of the Earth from itself.

China is getting stronger every day, and will probably be our match at least economically within two or three or four decades. They have their problems though, including massive environmental issues and ethnic divides to its west.

I'd like to see a two-pronged strategy:
1) Maintain our strength for as long as possible by restoring our economic strength. We can't get stronger in the long run by spending beyond our means. We have to bring the budget back into balance, or at least closer to balance. That means cutting back on military spending, which is about half of all our discretionary spending. At the same time we need to increase our investment in our "seed corn"--that which yields greater returns than it costs. That includes infrastructure improvements, educating our citizens, and investing in technologies of the future (and since no one can predict the future, this translates into investing in basic research as opposed to applied research).

2) Do all we can to construct a peaceful global community which coexists peacefully with each other, because we won't be in the driver's seat forever. We have to find an answer to nuclear proliferation. We have to find answers to global poverty and the ensuing alienation of citizens who have no future, no hope, no dignity--which leads to terrorism. We will have to work cooperatively in order to solve global warming.

Any of course we will. I'm still not sure why we don't pursue with more vigor nuclear energy. Why can't that be the bridge to future energy supplies?

I believe this crisis is the product of over-extended markets and careless individualism without basic regulations. Free trade, globalization, and financial pressures on the middle class have created a very unstable and volatile situation.


With more development, nuclear energy can certainly be contained and transported with efficiency. This, in conjunction with reliable solar power, could enable complete energy independence.

I'm not saying that our current situation will lead to the fall of the US. But just in general, America will commit suicide because its citizens are fat, dumb, and happy.

And I would say this rule applies to all empires. People get complacent...