Becoming a "second rate world power"; how bad would it really be? (Corporate Profits, generations)
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Which internet porn sites will we visit with the extra time we have on our hands once we cease being the West's primary enforcer?
In keeping with the analogy, there are an array of porn sites the U.S will be able to visit. As a 2nd rate power, we will be less likely to be attacked by Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, and we will have fewer expectations to be the global police force. Consequently we as a nation will have more revenue and therefore have the funds to visit pay porn sites rather than the free ones that have pop-ups (no pun intended) and perhaps even viruses (again, no pun intended). Ideally, the U.S. should be a close second to a non-threatening country.
In another thread I saw a person mention something about the US becoming a "second-rate world power" like the UK. And it got me thinking... how bad could that actually be?
Most people in the UK seem to enjoy the same standard of living that we enjoy. They have cell phones, computers, running water, electricity, etc. Yes, they've even got McDonalds and Starbucks and Chipotle! I get the feeling that a lot of people think anywhere that's not the US is some sort of backwards dystopia, but a lot of countries really aren't that different from us in terms of standards of living. Hell, some are better.
Thoughts?
Depends on who the first rate world power was, and whether they liked us or not.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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Besides military power, we take a lot for granted being "numero uno". Like not having to learn another language, not worrying whether our currency will be accepted, having pretty much the dominant culture, movies, music etc. worldwide, and a universally recognized ideal (if not always the reality) of what things like "democracy", "privacy" and "freedom" should be. All those might change dramatically, if another country, like say China, became the economic, technological, cultural or military leader in the world. And we all know what the "view" looks like standing behind the lead dog!
Besides military power, we take a lot for granted being "numero uno". Like not having to learn another language, not worrying whether our currency will be accepted, having pretty much the dominant culture, movies, music etc. worldwide, and a universally recognized ideal (if not always the reality) of what things like "democracy", "privacy" and "freedom" should be. All those might change dramatically, if another country, like say China, became the economic, technological, cultural or military leader in the world. And we all know what the "view" looks like standing behind the lead dog!
China is limited by there huge population and lack of Resources in fact there is no way possible for China to reach the same standard of living and lifestyle since the amount of energy and resouces needed would eat up tothe earth resources in no time.
North America has a low popualtion and some of the worlds richest and largest deposits of natrual Resources...The reason we won the cold war was the soviets built way more tanks planes and ships than we had and they built massive oversized planes like the antonov-225 which is the worlds largest jet plane, the Kirov-class battlecruiser which is as big as the Nimitz class super carrier in size and and then there was the 2 941 typhoon Class Subs (SSBN)
Russian Top Secret Aircraft - YouTube
Then there is this thing which is pretty intersresting but you can see why they could not keep up thier production levels.
One thing positive About the Cold War was it showed that having a true Rival that the west has beat at all costs no matter what... Is that some pretty amazing things get built and impossble things become possible when we are motivated and united and have a common goal.
There is no way the Apollo mission would of happend in these times because back then there were no factored in costs or a NASA having a budget to put the first man on the moon.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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The OP isn't about which country might be able to overtake us. And BTW, they wouldn't have to become dominant militarily to do it either. These days, just controlling critical technology and resources (like biotech, computing or rare earths for example), or even becoming the world's new "banker" and supplier of "capital" can accomplish much the same thing. And talk to the French about what it feels like to become "second banana" just in language and the arts.
I know a certain commander in chief who would love to read this thread. Lower the US to the standards of everybody else is his goal and many appear to be right alongside the great communist in charge.
The OP isn't about which country might be able to overtake us. And BTW, they wouldn't have to become dominant militarily to do it either. These days, just controlling critical technology and resources (like biotech, computing or rare earths for example), or even becoming the world's new "banker" and supplier of "capital" can accomplish much the same thing. And talk to the French about what it feels like to become "second banana" just in language and the arts.
We've already been taken over by the global banks, UN, and IMF. What remains of our legislative process is just smoke and mirrors.
The only people that would be negatively effected by The US being a "second rate world power" would be the many Corporations who have contracts in The Middle East (Dick Cheney and Haliburton ring a bell?) and those wishing for a One World Government and Monetary system.
Regular Americans would most likely see their Quality of Life rise as more funds would be available for domestic infrastrucure and education instead of foreign nation building.
And would we have to stop funding Solyndra and Al Gore? Heaven forbid!!!
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