[alexander_busek]

All excellent points, Freest Republic, but may I point out the most-subtle service rendered by the U.S. since WWII (made possible by our geopolitical ascendence, fuelled by the status of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency, thus enabling us to fund our military)?

The U.S. Navy polices the world's sea lanes!

This ensures rel. free trade and is more responsible than anything else for the unparalleled levels of internat'l commerce (vulgo: economic globalization) and thus PROSPERITY we see today.

Regards,

[MMusson]

The USA has quit protecting the sea lanes. Iran has seized two tankers and we just issue a press release. But that’s okay. That is Chinese oil. Let them sail to the Middle East and pick sides in a centuries old knife fight. It’s their problem now.

Global Trade as we knew it, is going to crater. Colocation will now replace the Global Supply Chain. And, those new plants will be built in the USA where the energy is.

Notice that BASF, the German chemical company, is moving their entire manufacturing capacity to Louisiana. It is no longer sustainable in energy poor Germany.