The American Empire

The U.S.A. has a huge debt/deficit, high unemployement, fighting three wars, many companies out sourcing jobs and moving abroad for cheaper labour, factories and industries closing down due to not being competative, mass illegal immigration especially from Mexico, the ever increasing gap between rich and the rest, the ineffectiveness of the federal government(congress), the lobby of special interest groups, profits over people(greed, Wall St., etc.) and other factors. Most of these factors have contributed to the fall of many empires through history. Do you think the American empire is crumbling?

We feel the aftershock of it all in Canada, as does a great chunk of the world.  I wouldn't dare vote "Don't care" because of that fact. 

It's good for all Americans that the empire is crumbling. Nobody needs one. We need our money and resources and people invested here, not wasted in other countries.

um, sorry for being politically correct, but...empire?

Yes, the political science major in me is cringing. It is no empire...
The "America" that most of the world gripes about, (100% justified IMO, I'd feel the same way) is really just capitalism. Not even in a bad way, just a fact. Is it the country of America that's invaded the world or McDonlands, Starbucks and Coca Cola?
Anyone that's talked about it with me knows how I feel about a lot of things involving America at home and abroad...but there's also a lot of unfair/misguided flak we take and after so many years I just get a bit fed up

BUT, yes. You have hit on many issues of major concern to the country.
The US has been running trade deficits since the 70s, no one cared as long as countries were willing to buy the debt but of course the constant threat here is "when will they stop?" Outsourcing is a major problem, first it was manufacturing jobs that have largely been wiped out, now its hitting white collar America. The grunt work, being shipped out, secretaries, being shipped out, even management now is being shipped out. It cost my dad his job after 33 years of loyal employment...

I get infuriated how no one here seems to get it or dismiss the problem. The recession is/was ending but unemployment was still near 10%. A job loss recovery, our second in a row. Obviously a frightening pattern. Sure jobs are always made, but nowhere near as much as they are being shipped out.

Immigration is not as bad in a "taking jobs" way, but they obviously do not contribute taxes yet benefit from the system and it can be a major drain for sure...

While a lot don't really care about the top/bottom gap I do, and it is indeed continuing to increase. Having so much being held by increasingly little is sad IMO but also dangerous. The middle class is sliding down and being choked...no matter what my family we does we barely stay afloat. Sometimes it feels like the American dream is dead.

The government and congress is a mess beyond words, and greed exists everywhere...but its another problem. Really, greed led to our current economic crisis.
Sorry for that, its well known I'm a political junkie and enthusiastic critic of American government and business!

Oh, and yes I'm glad America was never really an empire. Empires are wrong.
We were, of course, the hub of the global system though.

Honestly, free trade is a great idea in theory but I just don't see it as very realistic today. In the age of multi national corporations all that something like NAFTA, for example, has done is shift everything around for the benefit of the owners...but costs jobs and money for the countries themselves. Apply this to the whole world, add on the fact free trade makes it negative to step up work conditions, environmental protection, etc. It's causing a race to the bottom for the benefit of the top.
OK, I'm done and I swear I'm not a Marxist, I think



Edited by The Angry Scotsman - 14 Jul 2011 at 11:55pm

I feel bad for some on MMA since they just don't know, but those who do shoulda seen this coming from miles!

Yeah, I see that but nah...there were a few examples but the US never really "owned" any other colonies. Ya know? Like havn't exerted physical force over other people like the traditional ones of England, France, Germany, Japan, Russia etc  and the few the US did were given back pretty much issue free.

The US really is capitalism we've chosen to run an economic empire. But really that was my point, especially since the fall of the USSR, peoples gripe with America are a bit misplaced for "dominating" the world. Gripes about being the worlds police force are very valid though. Either way, yeah the country looks to be in a bad way. I've lucked out, managed to land a job where maybe I can still live the American dream but hope looks dim for most others.

Seriously, 2 other jobs failed otherwise I probably would be in a big office ATM, working on a salary with no incentive and would be outsourced in 5 years.

cannon wrote: Maybe empire was the wrong word to use. Maybe imperialism would of been better.   Here's something interesting on how unemployement #s are figured:   http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/learn-how-to-invest/The-real-unemployment-rate.aspx

Stooge wrote: cannon wrote: Maybe empire was the wrong word to use. Maybe imperialism would of been better.   Here's something interesting on how unemployement #s are figured:   http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/learn-how-to-invest/The-real-unemployment-rate.aspx They taught us all about the "unemployment" rate in the economics classes I took in university. I do not work now.  However, since I am actively seeking employment, and haven't retired or given up hope entirely, I am counted as part of the work force.  The unemployment figures omit many different scenarios (students that are full-time students without jobs being another).  I used to just think it meant anybody over 18 who didn't have a job and wasn't retired, and I'm sure a large chunk of people think the same.

 

^^^I didn't say it was you nor do I see your posts as inflamming an arguement. I do see your frustration and don't blame you in the least. If it was my country I would be also. I actually agree with you for the most part. Sometimes one's turning thier head is just as bad as the crime itself.