Phil,
Yes there will be ‘tribulations’ but there will be no ‘total’ collapse.
We have enough nukes and missiles to destroy any enemy militarily, everyone knows this. One can argue if there is a will to use them, but any attack that rivals or exceeds 9-11 will cause Americans to do whatever is necessary, and that includes the consideration of using nuclear weapons.
For the enemies we have within, we have the US Constitution. It is designed to make it exceedlingly difficult for any tyrant to rule the American people.
As for your references, all of them are based on offshoring of American technology and the equipping of competitors with the means to be economic powers. And you should know that the root cause of this transfer lies within the insane US tax code. And you should know further that the FairTax will reverse this shift and transfer of power.
Phil, I have a PhD in statistics so I am no stranger to high level analysis in whatever field. I also have experience in the highest levels of Washington DC as well as exposure to high ranking military discussions. So I think it is safe to say I have seen it all, just about. And that which I have not seen such as the recent banking and Wall St shenanigans, I am quick to grasp who the culprits are and what the elements of causation are.
I do not read books by people that write on political subject matters that are just a rehash of their experience in some think tank or some foundation or some policy experience in Wash DC.
Such writings impart no NEW information, or NEW intelligence to ME. They may impart to others, but not to me. I usually am at the ‘giving’ end of NEW information rather than the receiving.
Unless you think Prestowitz has some UNIQUE NEW information other than a rear view mirror of history and a speculative projection from it, then I won’t waste my time.
As for China, they have so many problems in their culture it is difficult to project anything about their future. Their markets will always in our lifetime and beyond be dependent on the USA and the West. They will grow their tech infrastructure, they will expand their military presence, they will try to inhabit other parts of the globe such as the Carribean. But they will never have the checks and balances that the Constitution provides Americans. Hence, they will never have the liberating innovative civilization underpinnings. They will always copy copy copy. And what they invent on their own, US scientists will quickly figure out, just as it was in the era of the USSR.
But if you insist that Prestowitz needs to be read, I will have a look. But make sure first that it will not waste my time.
You can decide for yourself if the book would be a waste of time. Here is what on respected reviewer said:
“Clyde Prestowitz gets it: America faces a changed world of great opportunity and great change. This book is a wake-up call for everyone who thinks we can cruise into the future without making major policy changes to sustain our competiveness.”
Craig Barrett, CEO, Intel
You did not address my central point, which is that China’s economy is expected to maintain its recent high rate of growth well into the foreseeable future. There are undoubtedly cultural problems, as well as infrastructure problems, but that has not stopped them from hyper-growth up to this point and isn’t likely to do so into the future. Perhaps the board members of Cysco, Intel and other hi-tech giants are totally wrong and China’s recent surge is merely temporary. However, I sure would not put my money on that.
You seem to believe that we don’t need to worry about economic competition and competing in the global marketplace because we have more nukes than anyone else. I don’t follow that line of reasoning. Are you saying that we can solve any economic challenges we may have by initiating a shooting war?