Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:counterpoint, courtesy Joe Walsh:

Hamas wiped out, Hezbollah decimated, Syria’s evil regime toppled, Iran severely weakened & mortally wounded, Russia bogged down in a war with Ukraine, their economy devastated.

Thank you Israel. Thank you United States. Thank you President Biden.

Who cares about a little unimportant country like Israel and its killing of Palestinians? By all reports from Israel Hamas is in total control and stronger vs before Israel start this round of genocide. Hamas controls all of Gaza and operates openly.

Israel could disappear tomorrow and 95% of Americans would say good. They got what they deserved. Israel is a nothing country in an unimportant area. The US will cut it off and no one will shed a tear.

Now can we get back to discussing America and not some unviable state?

I know this is probably a shock to you, but your campsite at UCLA does not represent 95% of Americans, little one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:counterpoint, courtesy Joe Walsh:

Hamas wiped out, Hezbollah decimated, Syria’s evil regime toppled, Iran severely weakened & mortally wounded, Russia bogged down in a war with Ukraine, their economy devastated.

Thank you Israel. Thank you United States. Thank you President Biden.

Who cares about a little unimportant country like Israel and its killing of Palestinians? By all reports from Israel Hamas is in total control and stronger vs before Israel start this round of genocide. Hamas controls all of Gaza and operates openly.

Israel could disappear tomorrow and 95% of Americans would say good. They got what they deserved. Israel is a nothing country in an unimportant area. The US will cut it off and no one will shed a tear.

Now can we get back to discussing America and not some unviable state?

The issue is that as Biden is leaving office, he is leaving Trump the opportunity to essentially eliminate Russia as a global force and funder of terror and manipulation. Think about it, Russia is responsible for Iran, Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas, Orban, Erdogan, the Houthis and the invasion of Ukraine.

the fall of Assad is seen by many as the first domino to end the Putin regime, parrticularly if they lose Tatarus in Syria.

What will trump do with it? will he afform the USA in global leadership to rival china? Or will he cede and allow russia to gather steam again?

Biden has tee's this up and for as much as I hate trump, he could go down as the greatest American president where foreign policy is concerned, if he did the right thing. I won't hold my breath.

Anonymous wrote:counterpoint, courtesy Joe Walsh:

Hamas wiped out, Hezbollah decimated, Syria’s evil regime toppled, Iran severely weakened & mortally wounded, Russia bogged down in a war with Ukraine, their economy devastated.

Thank you Israel. Thank you United States. Thank you President Biden.

Who cares about a little unimportant country like Israel and its killing of Palestinians? By all reports from Israel Hamas is in total control and stronger vs before Israel start this round of genocide. Hamas controls all of Gaza and operates openly.

Israel could disappear tomorrow and 95% of Americans would say good. They got what they deserved. Israel is a nothing country in an unimportant area. The US will cut it off and no one will shed a tear.

Now can we get back to discussing America and not some unviable state?

counterpoint, courtesy Joe Walsh:

Hamas wiped out, Hezbollah decimated, Syria’s evil regime toppled, Iran severely weakened & mortally wounded, Russia bogged down in a war with Ukraine, their economy devastated.

Thank you Israel. Thank you United States. Thank you President Biden.

Anonymous wrote:The US seems to be losing influence to China and Russia in various areas. It seems there’s little interest in being involved in Africa and that has been ceded to them. The Chinese are very busy in South America too. Withdrawing from NATO and disregard for other international organizations will erode the US’s influence further.

When America is involved internationally e gent to be involved militarily. Meanwhile Collins is build roads and infrastructure in Africa. And has burn a 24/7 Library in El Salvador. What wins hearted and minds?

Anonymous wrote:Way too early to declare anything.

I’m bullish on America because the competition of this century will not be over commodities or trade but over human capital. Birth rates are falling all over the world and it will upend everything. China has serious problems coming on that front.

For the total mess that the USA is, the USA is the only country in the world that can really take in and integrate immigrants. And we have a nearly two-century head start on the rest or the world in that category.

For as anti immigrant as the mood in the USA currently is, the rest of the world, and the Asian countries in particular, are really poor at immigration.

I agree with this. America has done well bc of immigration. That is what has made us great.

Anonymous wrote:If it wasn't dead before it will be with four more years of trump.

You also told us back in 2000 that the earth would be uninhabitable by 2025

If it wasn't dead before it will be with four more years of trump.

The US seems to be losing influence to China and Russia in various areas. It seems there’s little interest in being involved in Africa and that has been ceded to them. The Chinese are very busy in South America too. Withdrawing from NATO and disregard for other international organizations will erode the US’s influence further.

Anonymous wrote:Way too early to declare anything.

I’m bullish on America because the competition of this century will not be over commodities or trade but over human capital. Birth rates are falling all over the world and it will upend everything. China has serious problems coming on that front.

For the total mess that the USA is, the USA is the only country in the world that can really take in and integrate immigrants. And we have a nearly two-century head start on the rest or the world in that category.

For as anti immigrant as the mood in the USA currently is, the rest of the world, and the Asian countries in particular, are really poor at immigration.

No it will not be human capital. The coming battle is AI, alternative energy and EVs. I do not see the US leading in any of these.

Birth rates might preclude China from becoming the most powerful country this century. The TFR in China has declined to around 1 which is only half of replacement level. The median age in China is now older than the US (39.6 vs 38.3). In 2050, the median age for China is projected to be 54.2, while it will be around 42 in the US. China’s is projected to age by almost 15 years by 2050, and the US population will only get 4 years older during this time period.
https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2024/chinas-population-decline-getting-close-irreversible

Way too early to declare anything.

I’m bullish on America because the competition of this century will not be over commodities or trade but over human capital. Birth rates are falling all over the world and it will upend everything. China has serious problems coming on that front.

For the total mess that the USA is, the USA is the only country in the world that can really take in and integrate immigrants. And we have a nearly two-century head start on the rest or the world in that category.

For as anti immigrant as the mood in the USA currently is, the rest of the world, and the Asian countries in particular, are really poor at immigration.

Exporting the industrial base and Weaponization of the dollar made it possible.
Now it is better to accept the reality just like England did in the past and focus on bread and butter issues.

This is why Trump's eagerness to break with both Europe and our North American partners is such a death nell. No one really wants China ascendant -- they share too few values with the West. The US will flirt with China but at the end of the day we are better off with fellow democracies that value the same fundamental freedoms we do. China's hostility to the press and personal freedom should make Americans uncomfortable the same way these values in the USSR posed a threat to not just the US but democracy everywhere.

China will gain power no matter what the rest of us do, but Trump could mean the difference between a united democratic West preventing China from establishing a true hegemony, and just letting China do what they want.

I can only hope he will be as weak a president in his second term as in his first and that he does not do permanent damage to our relationship with the EU, Canada, and Mexico. The only way these countries are going to keep China in check is together. And that means united against Russian aggression too because of the unholy alliances China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are willing to assert. Israel is a real problem with regards to this issue no matter who is president but it's easier to deal with if we maintain current alliances -- if the US is fighting with the EU and Canada, Bibi will feel quite free to do as he pleases.

In February 1941, Henry Luce, the influential publisher of Time and Life magazines, penned an article heralding the “American Century,” a post-war era in which the United States would apply its newfound standing as the “dominant power in the world” to spread “free economic enterprise” and “the abundant life” around the globe. Luce envisioned the United States as “the principal guarantor of the freedom of the seas” and “the dynamic leader of world trade,” and saw in this future “possibilities of such enormous human progress as to stagger the imagination.”

…
Donald Trump’s second presidential victory represents a sharp break, and perhaps a permanent one, with the American Century framework.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/12/06/trump-ends-american-century-00192236

I agree with this article. Europe and Japan have followed our lead and would continue to do so if given a choice. China has clear intentions of over taking the US. Russia is wandering in the wilderness and declining quickly. The US will soon enter trade wars with our friends and strengthen our opponent.

China is projected to surpass the US economy in 10 years. In 20 years people will look back and point to Trump as the end of American century and influence in the world.