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A problem I have with the idea that China dominate this century is the effects of the one child policy. China is in a race between getting rich and getting old and set backs like what appears to be happening slows down getting rich, but nothing slows down the getting old. Also consider how vast amounts of capital and productivity have been wasted on projects that return no value like the ghost cities.

Not that America doesn’t have its own set of seemingly insurmountable problems, but ours can be fixed in a relatively short time by rediscovering our cultural traditions and educating people about them. We still have a reasonable balance between young and old (though ours is really starting to skew too) that the young can carry the burden is given a decent education and incentives. Reset the country on its moral foundations , cut the regulatory red tape, educate people and cut them loose to fend for themselves and this country can surge back. Not nearly as easy as it sounds, but surmountable in ways that China’s age demographic problems are not.

You hear no talk of China's four worst problems:

1) Demographics, as you mentioned.

2) A shortage of potable water, and that supply is shrinking rapidly.

3) A terrible air pollution problem.

4) Corruption at all levels.

I don't think any of these problems are solvable by the current regime. Demographics are baked in, you can't do much. A crash desalination program might help the water supply problem, but where is it? They continue their industrial practices that exacerbate air pollution. Corruption is driving all these other problems and is a large factor in the flight of capital.

There is no way out. The country will implode.

China ended the one-child policy a while ago.

Not that America doesn’t have its own set of seemingly insurmountable problems, but ours can be fixed in a relatively short time by rediscovering our cultural traditions and educating people about them. We still have a reasonable balance between young and old (though ours is really starting to skew too) that the young can carry the burden is given a decent education and incentives. Reset the country on its moral foundations , cut the regulatory red tape, educate people and cut them loose to fend for themselves and this country can surge back. Not nearly as easy as it sounds, but surmountable in ways that China’s age demographic problems are not.

I think you're being incredibly optimistic. Fact is, we have more people in this country taking Federal monies in one form of welfare payment or another, than we do working and actually paying for those welfare "benefits."

We see that reflected in terms of national debt, welfare payments including food & housing, healthcare and more.

Once you add on Social Security and Medicare, Social Security Disability Income (which is being over-loaded by many who simply ran out of unemployment) the problem here in the U.S. is damn' near intractable.

I hate to say this but I don't see how we "grow" our way out of this. Too many moochers in this country who are going to fight tooth and nail to keep what they perceive as being "theirs."

Lord knows I wish I was wrong .....