@Deviant:Scripter:
The funny part is that we Americans spend more on our military than the next 20 biggest powers combined.
Is anyone really surprised that we can conquer any country in the world?
but not every country in the world…
…?
@Deviant:Scripter:
@Deviant:Scripter:
The funny part is that we Americans spend more on our military than the next 20 biggest powers combined.
Is anyone really surprised that we can conquer any country in the world?
but not every country in the world…
…?
just ignore what I said
Ok. But history has shown that all empires and great powers rise and fall. The question that remains is: how long does the United States have before that happens?
In a modern world… probably never. There is no way I can see this happening… especially with it’s strides in economy, wealth (both material and natural), and government. US practically has no such disadvantages that could lead to its downfall in the future. Same goes with most of the stable countries in the world (France, Germany, Canada, ect)
Remember quotes like these, TG before you make such a claim, “The sun never sets on the British Empire”. The British empire is long gone and it was extremely powerful. No power every sees its downfall, it just simply happens and it will most likely happen to America. It might be gradually like the Roman Empire, or it might be within the span of 50 years like Germany.
Ask yourself, “Why did the British Empire fall?” The fact is that, it is purely illogical for a country of it’s size to amass such a huge empire. Also after the anti-colonial movement following WWII, Britain’s fate was set. Under these conditions, I would have to assume that the US would have to fragment into many different countries (I have dips on the Communist California), in order to achieve this affect - very unlikely. Even today, Britain has to rely on imports mainly to survive (food stuffs, raw materials). The US has yet to exhaust its wealth in resources (as I mentioned early), and probably never will. That it why I did not put Britain (or Japan) in my equation of stable countries. Their flaw is that they are much too dependent on other countries for even basic necessitates. Also, has the UK completely faded? No! The UK still remains an economic powerhouse, with a high per capita income and GDP. It is unconceivable to think that Britain has clearly seen its days. As for the Roman Empire, that Empire had neither the economic system nor the republican, government system backed up by sound legal codes. Also the Roman Empire was built on conquest, shares none of that it common with the latter (except in the case of the Civil War). There is absolutely no way, short of an act of God that would lead to US’s downfall. That said, certainly US is at its peak and will begin to lose some of its luster (as when the World Bank predicts that China’s GDP will surpass US’s in 2020). However, that won’t mean that the US will remain a very powerful country and certainly among the world’s superpowers.
if there is a nother world war then the US loses, then it will not be a super power
Hmmm… it’ll be pretty hard to defeat a country like the US in the event of a World War… again, there is absolutely no evidence to presuppose this :o
@TG:
Hmmm… it’ll be pretty hard to defeat a country like the US in the event of a World War… again,
I think the US will lose their superpower status by growing decadent out of ignorance out of arrogance…
just my two cents, but that usually is the way superpowers fell in history. Maybe in the last breaths a war by emerging other powers helped to speed up the “falling down process”, but i don’t think that a war is needed.
I am just wondering… do you have any hard evidence to support this statement? :o
the brits ignored india
@TG:
I am just wondering… do you have any hard evidence to support this statement? :o
geez TG.
F_alk prefaced everything with “i think” and “my two cents”. That’s the best “this is my opinion sign” on the planet. He didn’t cite facts, so i think that he’s prolly somewhat immune from having to supply hard evidence.
To be honest, although i do not entirely agree with him, i definitely agree that much of what he says has a lot of merit. IMO, not prepared to supply hard evidence.
I am just wondering do the vast majority of Americans hold his “decadent out of ignorance out of arrogance…” Also pure arrogance alone cannot lead to a downfall of a power as long as those claims can be backed. So far, I see no views of Americans getting less ignorant. This seems awfully subjective to me… :o
It’s only ignorance depending on which direction you’re viewing it from. Did it ever occur to you that maybe they’re the ones who are ignorant? :roll: Have you ever stopped to think that they’re ignorant when it comes to living peaceful and meaningful lives? :-?
We live in the most just and fair country on this planet. It’s this way becuase we don’t wage “war” against each other simply becuase of religious beliefs. We support leaders who practice and uphold our own ideals of freedom and democracy, and we’d be quick to knock down those who wish to oppress us. :-?
If we’re going to speak of ignorance, look at the entire picture. EVERYBODY IS IGNORANT is some aspect of their thinking. I get tired of hearing people throw out fallacious comments that Americans are ignorant. What the hell are we so ignorant about, that it’s going to destroy our country eventually??
@F_alk:
@TG:
Hmmm… it’ll be pretty hard to defeat a country like the US in the event of a World War… again,
I think the US will lose their superpower status by growing decadent out of ignorance out of arrogance…
just my two cents, but that usually is the way superpowers fell in history. Maybe in the last breaths a war by emerging other powers helped to speed up the “falling down process”, but i don’t think that a war is needed.It really sounds like you’re talking abut the German reichs F_alk. I only wish the Third Reich would not have taken so long to fall.
On the issue of the British, yes they were doomed, but they did some wonderful and some horrible things in the 20th century. Thanks to Churchill and the British World War 2 was won, had they given up in the Battle of Britain who knows how it would have ended. but they also did some horrible things such how they treated India, their control over South Africa and how they left the Jews to die in a war against he Arabs in 1948. All empires eventually fall, Germany had two world wars to seeped up her fall, the Soviet Union fell and I predict that the US will fall. I have no hard proof, but I just have a feeling that history’s repitition will keep on going. Maybe it will be another American Civil War, or maybe it wil lbe over a long period of time, but I still believe it will happen.
@Deviant:Scripter:
It’s only ignorance depending on which direction you’re viewing it from. Did it ever occur to you that maybe they’re the ones who are ignorant? :roll: Have you ever stopped to think that they’re ignorant when it comes to living peaceful and meaningful lives? :-?
We live in the most just and fair country on this planet. It’s this way becuase we don’t wage “war” against each other simply becuase of religious beliefs. We support leaders who practice and uphold our own ideals of freedom and democracy, and we’d be quick to knock down those who wish to oppress us. :-?
If we’re going to speak of ignorance, look at the entire picture. EVERYBODY IS IGNORANT is some aspect of their thinking. I get tired of hearing people throw out fallacious comments that Americans are ignorant. What the hell are we so ignorant about, that it’s going to destroy our country eventually??
Based on conversations w/ Americans, i can easily answer the first part of your last question:
the rest of the world (sans vacation spots). Every Canadian has several personal anecdotes about dealing w/ Americans and their absolute ignorance about what happens once you cross the border. It really is amazing.
“Canadian? Do you know John Smith in Toronto”?
“do you live in an igloo?” “have you ever been attacked by a polar bear?”
There’s an entire tv show that showcases American’s ignorance about Canada (Rick Mercer Speaks to Americans). George Bush in the Michigan primaries thought that our Prime Minister’s name was “Poutine”!!! Poutine is fries w/ Gravy and cheese curds!!!
idiots.
I actually know people who’ve told me that Americans have asked them if they live in igloos when they were in the United States. In Vermont, the americans couldn’t believe we Canadians spoke English because they kept on getting all the people from Quebec coming over.
I think you are taking satire on too high of a grounds. Certainly I am a American and I know enough of your country to know that “Canada is not filled with Igloos and rampant Polar Bears…” :o
I can say that ever person is different. You see it where you go, you see it on these forums. To simply label one group as ignorant is a severe miscalcuation. And if we are ignorant than you should have no problem thrashing me. Go ahead, do it if you dare…
Well TG, you’re obviously correct.
I am ignorant about a great many things. I pass by many news articles that hold no interest to me. I don’t know the names of the heads of states of many countries whose names i don’t know as well (or prolly couldn’t pronounce).
I think that if you compared “world geography and history knowledge” between citizens of the US and those of many other 1st world countries, you would find a large margin of a difference (in general terms, of course). Whereas Americans know a great deal about their own communittees, states and even much of their country, they tend to know less about the outside (relatively speaking).
I could not presume to find the poll on this or the hard evidence. Maybe give me some time and impetus . . . F_alk? you have anything?
omg why is it that peoples only arguement is that History Repeats itself. History doesnt always repeat itself, for example u could say that in early 1940 Germany would never conquer France becuase History has shown that in WW1 they got into a slow moving war of attrition and eventully lost. (excluding the Franco Prussian War) ;) just because it happend before doesnt necisarily mean it will happen again, as of right now we are in the present and we can change the future, so if us Yanks play our Cards right, maybe we wont end up like ther other EMpires. i mean u never know ;) thats my two cents
ps
and thats just my opinion ;)
