The end of the USA as a superpower

[rhys 0]

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From 1945 till ~1990, the Soviet Union controlled half of Europe and exerted influence over most of the globe in opposition to the US lead block.

The Russia of today rolls tanks into a small portion of a country that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

Not quite the same, is it?

And today in russia they have the largest oil reserves and have not a problem with supply of energy, they have a huge population that knows how to work hard, and survive hardship, their capital city is currently the most expensive in the world to live in, due to demand and affluence, and what do you hear or care about that?

Most likely nothing.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kelpdiver 2]

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From 1945 till ~1990, the Soviet Union controlled half of Europe and exerted influence over most of the globe in opposition to the US lead block.

The Russia of today rolls tanks into a small portion of a country that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

Not quite the same, is it?

And today in russia they have the largest oil reserves and have not a problem with supply of energy, they have a huge population that knows how to work hard, and survive hardship, their capital city is currently the most expensive in the world to live in, due to demand and affluence, and what do you hear or care about that?

Most likely nothing.

You probably believed in 1991 that Iraq had this massive army that was going to give the US coalition a hard time too.

Russia is a 2nd tier economy. It's corruption among business (and the government) is well beyond anything else seen in western world, even your Rockerfeller fantasies.

Yes, it's oil is now giving it some good cash, but how many significant powers do you see in the world that do nothing but commodities? 0. The pullback in oil prices will hurt them. Far too much of their economy comes from energy alone. And the government's theft of private businesses is making foreign investors incredibly leery.

If it still had all of its offspring nations, it would be a different matter, perhaps. But we already had that cold war and they lost it.

[Skyrad 0]

I wouldn't mind where my money is invested (within reason) so long as its making money and is as secure as possible. In the current climate India and China have proven to be more resiliant than other markets. So would I rather have my money in India or the USA? Honestly India is looking more atractive at the moment.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

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US govie debt will still be considered "riskless" by everyone who's serious about their money.

Those days are gone.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[rhys 0]

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You probably believed in 1991 that Iraq had this massive army that was going to give the US coalition a hard time too.

Russia is a 2nd tier economy. It's corruption among business (and the government) is well beyond anything else seen in western world, even your Rockerfeller fantasies.

Yes, it's oil is now giving it some good cash, but how many significant powers do you see in the world that do nothing but commodities? 0. The pullback in oil prices will hurt them. Far too much of their economy comes from energy alone. And the government's theft of private businesses is making foreign investors incredibly leery.

If it still had all of its offspring nations, it would be a different matter, perhaps. But we already had that cold war and they lost it.

Why does being a super power necessarily mean you have to have a huge destructive military?

I don't think russia will be the dominant force but could be, the question of who was capable was asked and that is an answer.

Those that own the money are the real worry!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[shropshire 0]

The people with power that can see that they are loosing it, they are the real concern.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[idrankwhat 0]

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Weird that the Rockerfellers, Rothchilds and all those mega high rolling, country/govornment owning assholes, don't get a mention in all this current economic debarcle.

Huh?

Precisely, and they like it that way.

[mnealtx 0]

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Weird that the Rockerfellers, Rothchilds and all those mega high rolling, country/govornment owning assholes, don't get a mention in all this current economic debarcle.

Huh?

Damn... he just needed to mention ZOG and he would've had the trifecta!!!

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[rehmwa 2]

typical tk there

Bush, CEOs, and the rich

you forgot about the others, congress, lobbies, people that took loans with no reason to

all this enabled by over regulation and periodic infusions of cash and protective laws based on socialist principals

this is a completely socialist move, and Bush dumb enough to allow it to happen, even encourage it - he's clearly your hero and the hero of all the socialists in the country - you all just haven't figured it out yet. Once you do, you'll pass laws to build statues of him and take "The Great" after his name and pass thought bills for people to not think bad things about him.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[tkhayes 348]

yep, typical TK, a guy who cares that the little guy (and me) gets a fair shake. A guy who thinks that it is wrong for CEO's to make hundreds of millions while their employees and stockholders lose their investments.

yep, typical TK - how dare he......

[Ron 10]

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he really is not that fucking smart.

I assume you have degrees from Harvard and Yale? I assume you were smart enough to be the most powerful man in the US, maybe the world?

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I am all for deregulation, as long as I am allowed to burn down houses and lynch people when they lose my money.

Nice, so you think violence is the answer!

If you hate the US so much...why did you ever leave Canada?

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[tkhayes 348]

nice how you take everything i say and turn it into things I did not say. And assume things that are incorrect.

I came to the USA for a job. nothing more. And yes I have the option to go back to Canada anytime I want.

And as long as I live here, and worked hard to become a US citizen, then I will, same as you, speak my mind about what is right and wrong.

And now, like you, I will change what you said into something that you did not say....

Are you suggesting that I be suppressed of my opinions in this free country?? Or perhaps that people who disagree with you are forced to leave the USA?

[kelpdiver 2]

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Why does being a super power necessarily mean you have to have a huge destructive military?

I don't think russia will be the dominant force but could be, the question of who was capable was asked and that is an answer.

Those that own the money are the real worry!

There aren't any examples in history of a rich, but unarmed country exerting great influence in the world. The Swiss have always had money, but have always been 'neutral.' The Jews supposedly have money, but have been persecuted and killed for two thousand years. Until they got the bomb, they were being attacked every 5 years. The oil nations have built a lot of palaces and BMWs, but very little infrastructure (aside from Dubai).

The real world is by and large a zero sum world. Your gain is someone else's loss. It's hard to get that without a military force. Russia is invasion proof - the nuclear deterrence is something that didn't exist before. So they don't have the same future as Poland - rich, but easy to steamroll.

And it remains true that a nation whose primary export can decline in value by 40% in months will have difficulty maintaining a constant economy.

[pirana 0]

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maybe time for all of you to take more responsibility as a community not independently? You guys use more resources than the whole world toghter, and are only 300 000 000 people! Get real!

Resources PURCHASED, then consumed or put to productive use.

Other countries are free to purchase them instead of us. What's that? Can't afford to purchase what we do?

Then you have just learned a little bit about The Market.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[Ron 10]

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nice how you take everything i say and turn it into things I did not say. And assume things that are incorrect

Really? You said EXACTLY:"I am all for deregulation, as long as I am allowed to burn down houses and lynch people when they lose my money."

How is that not approving violence?

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I came to the USA for a job. nothing more. And yes I have the option to go back to Canada anytime I want.

OK great!

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And as long as I live here, and worked hard to become a US citizen, then I will, same as you, speak my mind about what is right and wrong.

Fantastic!
As long as you will admit that you choose to live here and not there.

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Are you suggesting that I be suppressed of my opinions in this free country?? Or perhaps that people who disagree with you are forced to leave the USA?

No, or course not.

I just want you to admit you DO approve of violence (per your own EXACT words in this thread) and choose to be in the US over Canada.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[billvon 3,008]

>You said EXACTLY:"I am all for deregulation, as long as I am allowed to burn
>down houses and lynch people when they lose my money."

People here say stuff like that all the time. Doesn't mean they are serious. Marks2065 recently posted "and when i sit and collect from you because i decided to be a lazy pice of shit and Obama gave me your money don't whine, smile." Within a few posts he was saying that he was just being sarcastic to make a point. Heck, people are making noises about leaving if Obama is elected; I have zero doubt none of them will actually leave.

[rehmwa 2]

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>I have zero doubt none of them will actually leave.

can you parse that for me? I'm a bit in a hurry and can't take the time to do it for myself.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,008]

>can you parse that for me?

While (Obama wins election) {

malcontents = remain in USA;

world != end;

}

[Ron 10]

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People here say stuff like that all the time. Doesn't mean they are serious.

It does go to show how they think. They may not ACTUALLY burn a house down, but it shows they WANT to do it. To me that is still approving of violence.

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Heck, people are making noises about leaving if Obama is elected; I have zero doubt none of them will actually leave.

Just like all those that claimed they would leave if Bush won. I don't think they will go anywhere either.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[billvon 3,008]

>They may not ACTUALLY burn a house down, but it shows they WANT to do it.

You really think that Mark WANTS to be a "lazy piece of shit?" You have in the past used examples about how a person not carrying a gun might be raped or robbed; I don't think that means you want them to be raped or robbed.

>Just like all those that claimed they would leave if Bush won.

Yep. I think Salinger is the only one who did.

[Ron 10]

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You really think that Mark WANTS to be a "lazy piece of shit?"

Sure, you know otherwise? Maybe he is fed up of busting his butt and watching others sail by?

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You have in the past used examples about how a person not carrying a gun might be raped or robbed; I don't think that means you want them to be raped or robbed.

Big difference between me saying they MIGHT and me saying I WANT them to be rapped or robbed.

I would think you would be able to tell the difference....I could be wrong.

Honestly, I think you can and are just being argumentative.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[billvon 3,008]

>Sure, you know otherwise?

Yes. His next post said he despises people like that.

>Honestly, I think you can

And I think you understand the literary device known as sarcasm, since you employ it yourself.

[yarpos 4]

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Why does being a super power necessarily mean you have to have a huge destructive military?

I don't think russia will be the dominant force but could be, the question of who was capable was asked and that is an answer.

Those that own the money are the real worry!

There aren't any examples in history of a rich, but unarmed country exerting great influence in the world. The Swiss have always had money, but have always been 'neutral.' The Jews supposedly have money, but have been persecuted and killed for two thousand years. Until they got the bomb, they were being attacked every 5 years. The oil nations have built a lot of palaces and BMWs, but very little infrastructure (aside from Dubai).

The real world is by and large a zero sum world. Your gain is someone else's loss. It's hard to get that without a military force. Russia is invasion proof - the nuclear deterrence is something that didn't exist before. So they don't have the same future as Poland - rich, but easy to steamroll.

And it remains true that a nation whose primary export can decline in value by 40% in months will have difficulty maintaining a constant economy.

just one small point , as we seem to be all over the shop topic wise.....the Swiss having money and being neutral is a relatively turn of events, in their early days they were not rich and bloody ruthless in eliminating enemies.

Personally I think the US has been morally gone as a super power for many years and as things unravel over the next decade will become economically less significant. Not sure it matters apart from bragging rights. I have many friends there and I hope it stays , from the inside, a great place to be.

regards, Steve
the older I get...the better I was

[Ron 10]

You should quote the whole thing.

I said, "Honestly, I think you can and are just being argumentative. "

So you admit you are just being argumentative.

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And I think you understand the literary device known as sarcasm, since you employ it yourself.

You claiming I want people to be robbed or raped is sarcasm huh?

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334