[Barney Gumble]

I don't know why Americans act surprised when China tries to built up their military. Of course, they are going to try. They want to be a superpower and a pre-requisite of being a superpower is having a military.

What we really need to concentrate on is our people and making sure our children will people able to compete economically. With our schools constantly lowering standards and preventing "winners and losers" we are setting ourselves up for future failure.

[Aquinasfan]

With our schools constantly lowering standards and preventing "winners and losers" we are setting ourselves up for future failure.

Thankfully, schooling has little to do with economic success. Americans have tested lower than most developed countries for several decades now. Indeed, most of us have been able to overcome 12 years of schooling to go on and lead productive lives. Economic prosperity has more to do with a market economy, property rights, low taxes, and personal freedoms than anything else.