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Baraka_Guru · 06-10-2010, 11:45 AM

It's been talked/joked about for years, but in thinking of empire recently, and if you add up recent events/evidence, it would appear to me that the idea of America as the undisputed #1 superpower is under threat. There have been a few occurrences that have undermined America's ability to demonstrate its power. These have revealed that the American Empire is fallible.

What I refer to are, namely:

The difficulties with the aftermath of the Second Gulf War (the Occupation of Iraq);
The Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis, and the Great Recession (and the ensuing banking failures);
The obesity epidemic and the perceived helplessness to stop it;
The trending suggesting that China will become the biggest economy in the near future;
The looming energy crisis (and America's dependency on Middle Eastern Oil);
Being at the mercy of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill;
A growing disparity between the classes;
The upheaval of the political environment (Tea Party Movement, a fracturing Republican party, a listless Democratic party);
The possibility of another social upheaval (the same-sex marriage debate, the abortion debate, the immigration debate; the decriminalization/legalization of marijuana, the future of social programs, etc.); and
The runaway deficit and gargantuan debt load.

These are the recent challenges facing America, and you know what? It looks bleak. I mean, really fucking bleak. Out of everything on this list, it looks like there will be a) failure, b) long-term detrimental effects, c) short-term crises, and d) a nation forever changed, and not necessarily for the better.

I think the American Empire is coming to a point of rapid change, and the nation's ability to weather it will depend on a willingness to accept that things cannot remain the same forever, and that sometimes you have to compromise and sometimes you have to lose. For example, I think the cost of living in America will continue to rise at a pace that will put pressure on what's expected for living "The American Way." This isn't merely because of America itself; it's also because of outside factors.

I think this is a difficult thing for many Americans to accept, and this will only add to the turmoil.

What do you think?

Am I being delusional?
Does this thread belong in Tilted Paranoia?

What are your impressions on this list of items? Can you add more to it? Are they not as serious as I would suggest?

What future do you see for America when you look at the big picture?

06-10-2010, 11:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	The Crumbling of the American Empire? It's been talked/joked about for years, but in thinking of empire recently, and if you add up recent events/evidence, it would appear to me that the idea of America as the undisputed #1 superpower is under threat. There have been a few occurrences that have undermined America's ability to demonstrate its power. These have revealed that the American Empire is fallible. What I refer to are, namely: The difficulties with the aftermath of the Second Gulf War (the Occupation of Iraq); The Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis, and the Great Recession (and the ensuing banking failures); The obesity epidemic and the perceived helplessness to stop it; The trending suggesting that China will become the biggest economy in the near future; The looming energy crisis (and America's dependency on Middle Eastern Oil); Being at the mercy of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill; A growing disparity between the classes; The upheaval of the political environment (Tea Party Movement, a fracturing Republican party, a listless Democratic party); The possibility of another social upheaval (the same-sex marriage debate, the abortion debate, the immigration debate; the decriminalization/legalization of marijuana, the future of social programs, etc.); and The runaway deficit and gargantuan debt load. These are the recent challenges facing America, and you know what? It looks bleak. I mean, really fucking bleak. Out of everything on this list, it looks like there will be a) failure, b) long-term detrimental effects, c) short-term crises, and d) a nation forever changed, and not necessarily for the better. I think the American Empire is coming to a point of rapid change, and the nation's ability to weather it will depend on a willingness to accept that things cannot remain the same forever, and that sometimes you have to compromise and sometimes you have to lose. For example, I think the cost of living in America will continue to rise at a pace that will put pressure on what's expected for living "The American Way." This isn't merely because of America itself; it's also because of outside factors. I think this is a difficult thing for many Americans to accept, and this will only add to the turmoil. What do you think? Am I being delusional? Does this thread belong in Tilted Paranoia? What are your impressions on this list of items? Can you add more to it? Are they not as serious as I would suggest? What future do you see for America when you look at the big picture? __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 06-10-2010 at 11:47 AM..