Yep, there's a well reasoned counterpoint. Okay, sorry if I upped the nastiness in the language myself but I've heard the "ve vill crush you" rhetoric for decades and it strikes me as neither insightful nor constructive. Anything is possible, the US could be a full on Mad Max fantasy in 20 years, but I don't see any value in assuming the worst about the US if your theory is based primarily on resentment fueled fantasies at the expense of real critiques.
Our government is spending/borrowing insane amounts of cash, with no plan at all how to change course. Wall St. & Corporate America are funding expansion in China & India, and shipping jobs overseas (programming, engineering, financial analysis as well as all of our manufacturing), and lastly companies are dropping retirement plans as our government prepares to basically end medicare & social security. Things look pretty bleak.
I believe America's time to shine has come and gone. Just like every great nation at varying points in history. France was the dominant military and economic powerhouse once upon a time, so was Spain. The UK was also as well, conquering and enslaving foreign peoples and lands as an imperialist empire. As the vast majority of ignorant americans like to tell themselves, that we're not on a smiliar path as these fallen empires, we are. Simply look at the global socioeconomic trends for the past 2 decades. If you can truly be an objective analyst, you will see my point. But most people aren't able to leave the blind loyalty/patriotic BS behind. But no matter. The more idiots there are out there, the less competition I have.
Everyone is in bed with us on this one...when the time comes, we can fight about it (war) or we can let the system go and rebuild it learning from our past mistakes. Either way, the USA still maintains the dominant position moving forward. We are systemically better in terms of entrepreneurial spirit, ability to adapt, factors of production, and don't forget our military if rebuilding gets physical. Where would you like to be if it all came down... Either way, you have to trade today.
This is the result of decades of brainwashing from Hollywood and the Mass Media and woefully sub-par educational system for developing critical thinking and other faculties for modern life.
You guys need to travel more...perhaps that would orientate to what is going on everywhere else. OUR PROBLEMS ARE EVERY DEVELOPED ECONOMY'S PROBLEMS! If the global-economic system resets, we still stand in the best position moving forward! Beyond educating yourself, there isn't a single investment you could make that will mean a damn thing if the entire system cuts loose anyway...so keep investing and making money today! btw, educating doesn't necessarily refer to our institutions...education in general terms.
Yes, Europe etc will have problems of their own. The difference then is that on account of politics and ideology Europe and China will be friendly politically and conspire to cut the US out.