Posted: May 19, 2008, 10:12 PM CST
shipoker55 wrote:doesn't matter....no matter who is elected....America looses.....too far down the road of no return!!
No - the USA is NOT finished; however you will take time to recuperate from economic factors that have been building up over many years.
The USA will now have to make some real changes to catch up with the standard of living in most Western countries.
You live in an extremely unequal country where the rich have got immensely richer and the poor have hardly moved in the last decade or so.
There is less social mobility in 'The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave' than in any civilised country on this planet.
Americans still, just about, believe that they can obtain 'The American Dream' - any US citizen can at least aspire to become President of what is still the most powerful country in the world, but the dream of having 'the good life' is becoming harder and harder for a larger and larger percentage of Americans.
Maybe the US has begun punching above its weight........... the enormous cost of maintaining AND using a huge military 'machine' is taking its toll - your national debt just grows and grows when it now needs to reduce.
Americans quit saving years ago. You guys have mostly lived off cheap imports and 'burnt' the equity you had in property.
The US dollar was grossly overvalued.
A weak dollar has helped push up the price of oil, but if the main oil producers decide to fix the price of oil in another currency (i.e. the euro) then the dollar will tumble really fast - and that is not good for either you or the rest of the world.
It's going to be tough in the USA for at least several years to come, but your country shall adapt and things will eventually get better.
However, like any great nation/civilisation in the past, your days as 'the best' are surely numbered.
My advice?
Applt to join the EU! The EU changed it's name several times already...... we can consider accommodating non-European countries such as Turkey - why not the USA too?
All the EU has to do is change its name yet again from 'The European Union' to 'The Union'.
Once you join all your citizens will be forced to have a decent welfare system and longer vacations - you'll be poorer but happier!