Will the United States retain it's status as the world's superpower for the foreseeable future?

[ALiberalModerate]

China has no problems of course.

Everything there is smooth, even, steady, constant, consistent, happy, harmonious, creative, innovative and so on.

CCP Boyz in Beijing are long term brilliant planners who are the masters of the universe they want everyone to think they are. Never mind each and every dynasty in China has failed .

I am not a fan of the CCP, but that's a dumb argument. Where on earth, in what country or civilization, has any dynasty, kingdom, or government lasted forever? Many of China's historical dynasties lasted far longer than any of their counterparts in the west.

 

[Tangmo]

I doubt you know the half of it

America's High-Tech STEM Crisis




Note the majority of foreign students in US universities are from China, followed by India

Dozens of US colleges and universities are closing the notorious Confucius Institutes on their campuses because the institutes are arms of the CCP Boys in Beijing. The same is occurring in Europe, Canada, Australia. The Confucius Institutes have proved themselves to be propaganda centers of money and censorship of the CCP Dictator-Tyrants in Beijing.


Why U.S. universities are shutting down China-funded Confucius Institutes

Why U.S. universities are shutting down China-funded Confucius Institutes - Broadcast China






Foreign Universities Express Concern Over CCP Influence

Last month, a group of students, alumni, and professors from UMass Boston wrote a letter requesting a meeting with the school’s chancellor to discuss concerns that the university’s Chinese government-funded Confucius Institute is promoting censorship and undermining academic freedom. Laura Krantz at The Boston Globe reports:


[…] The letter to UMass said the Confucius centers shape public opinion on controversial issues such as Tibetan independence, China’s relationship with Taiwan, and the Tiananmen Square massacre. “As a result of their presence on campus, whether through direct intervention, or pre-emptive self-censorship, important political and human rights issues are being silenced,” the writers said. [Source]


Calls to shut down the institute at UMass is part of a broader wave of opposition to these centers, which currently operate on hundreds of college campuses worldwide, with more than ninety in the United States. The centers are financed by the Chinese government and overseen by a branch of the Chinese Ministry of Education known as Hanban. Advertised as tools to promote Chinese language education and cultural exchange, these institutes have drawn controversy in recent years due to fears over Chinese government interference in the choice of curriculum and appointment of faculty.

Amid growing concerns about censorship and propaganda, the University of Chicago ended its partnership with the Confucius Institute in 2014, after more than 100 professors signed a petition calling for the school to cut the centre. That same year the American Association of University Professors called on all U.S. universities to close their institutes. In Canada, the Toronto school board and McMaster University also terminated their deals with Hanban over censorship concerns and human rights complaints, respectively.

Foreign Universities Express Concern Over CCP Influence – China Digital Times (CDT)






Documentary Pulls Back The Curtain On Communist China’s Global Soft Power Outposts

The riveting new documentary ‘In the Name of Confucius’ examines China’s controversial practice of planting outposts at more than 1,100 universities and K-12 schools across the world.

Liu’s film offers glimpses into China’s goals for its Confucius Institutes, which an agency of the Chinese government, the Hanban, operates and funds. She splices together TV shots of Hanban executive director Xu Lin (a member of the Chinese government’s highest committee, the 35-member State Council) expressing her delight that top universities in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere “work for us” by hosting Confucius Institutes. Later, we see Xu accept the “Influencing the World Award” at a gala. In her acceptance speech, Xu raves that “Confucius Institutes are an important part of our soft power. We want to expand China’s influence.”

Under Xu’s leadership, the Hanban sends upwards of $100,000, free Chinese teachers, and thousands of government-printed textbooks to every Confucius Institute and Confucius Classroom, every year. In exchange, China gets to set hiring policies, buy universities’ goodwill, and screen out undesired topics, such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, or the Dalai Lama’s support for Tibetan independence.

Documentary Pulls Back The Curtain On China’s Soft Power Outposts



CCP Dictator-Tyrants in Beijing aren't fooling anyone and I suspect they know this.

 

[American]

for the record: I don't know so I voted for the eggs and bacon.

Me too.

 

[Tangmo]

I expect China to achieve world hegemony by the end of this century, if not sooner. China has a homogeneous population with an average IQ of 105, and low rates of crime and illegitimacy. Intelligence is primarily determined genetically. Criminal and sexual behavior are largely influenced genetically. Diversity is not our strength; it is our source of social discord and political polarization.

I hope and believe that China will adopt a democratic government, a non coercive way to population growth, and that it will clean up the Chinese environment. I also hope that the Chinese government is not tempted to advance its interests with military aggression. The Chinese do not need war. History is moving in China's direction. If you have children, try to get them to learn Mandarin. As the sun sets on the United States it rises on China.


YouTube

Xi Jinpingpong set everyone in China cringing last week when he grabbed the microphone and cited the Long March to the Chinese people and population. Everyone groaned. Xi's pronouncement of hardship and suffering is not news to the Chinese. Rather, the really bad news for Chinese in the trade war is that even tougher times are taking shape already.

What scares Chinese people most is the dependence China has on imported food from the USA, to include foodstuffs. CCP Boys in Beijing are already scrambling to fill the massive shortage of USA soybeans that feed tens of millions of pigs. Chinese are already bemoaning the radical reduction of US exports of the Chinese main meat pork due to the tariffs and trade war.

Indeed only the USA has the huge agricultural capacity to include livestock farming to feed China which is unable to feed itself. While even Trump knows he can't starve 'em to death over there (in a trade war) the Chinese know USA messing with China's USA food imports can send a lot of Chinese adults to bed without much of any dinner. Which makes Xi's New Long March the absolute worst idea they've heard yet from their numbnuts leader. It's like the Potus saying to Americans we need suddenly to survive Dust Bowl conditions for the rest of the year and probably next year too.



African Swine Fever Kills Over 1 Million Chinese Pigs, Decreasing Global Output, Increasing Pork Prices About 40%

As China continues to fight the deadly pig disease, African swine fever, the price of pork has shot up drastically across the globe.
The declining inventories have forced importers to purchase pork from areas like Europe, which has increased pork prices by about 40% and led to shortages in various markets.
The fast-moving African swine fever has killed about 1 million pigs since August in 31 of China’s 34 provinces

Due to the seriousness of the disease, the Chinese have had to kill herds and stop shipments to stop the spread of the fever.
An expert said “the outbreak’s scale is unprecedented.”
As one of the world’s leading pork exporters, China might experience a 35% decrease in output, which could be a boost for Spanish, German and other European farmers.
While the African swine fever is fatal to pigs, it’s not harmful to humans.

African Swine Fever Kills Over 1 Million Chinese Pigs, Decreasing Global Output, Increasing Pork Prices About 40%

 

[Tangmo]

I expect China to achieve world hegemony by the end of this century, if not sooner. China has a homogeneous population with an average IQ of 105, and low rates of crime and illegitimacy. Intelligence is primarily determined genetically. Criminal and sexual behavior are largely influenced genetically. Diversity is not our strength; it is our source of social discord and political polarization.

I hope and believe that China will adopt a democratic government, a non coercive way to population growth, and that it will clean up the Chinese environment. I also hope that the Chinese government is not tempted to advance its interests with military aggression. The Chinese do not need war. History is moving in China's direction. If you have children, try to get them to learn Mandarin. As the sun sets on the United States it rises on China.


YouTube

You're throwing darts blindfolded.

Someone could remove the dartboard and you'd never know it.

But who knows, maybe you and your Chinese could make the end of the century come sooner. Chinese have lived thousands of years already in their own fantasies. Inbred culturally and in their civilization as closed to the world as they remain. And if you are Chinese then you have known from birth never to believe a foreigner. Chinese believe only other Chinese.

 

[Tangmo]

for the record: I don't know so I voted for the eggs and bacon.

Eggs and Bacon are always a good choice.

Me too.

The price of pork and pork products just went up considerably.

The major reason is that millions of pigs in China are dying from African Swine Fever.

I do hope however you guyz continue to enjoy your favorite breakfast or food. As for moi, my father always said I was a ham and egger from the start. Methinks he meant in more ways than one however.

 

[Tangmo]

I am not a fan of the CCP, but that's a dumb argument. Where on earth, in what country or civilization, has any dynasty, kingdom, or government lasted forever? Many of China's historical dynasties lasted far longer than any of their counterparts in the west.

We know the reason for the failure of each and every Chinese dynasty for 2000 years continuously and from before that point in time.

The Chinese answer to every challenge and to each new conundrum is to increase the power and authority of the emperor.

We recall that the CCP Dictators in Beijing just made Xi Jinpingpong emperor for life. That is, Rinse and Repeat.

Bottom line is that Chinese don't learn. It could be because they can't learn. Chinese seem to have a natural resistance and opposition to learning. Chinese much prefer to be grandiose, aloof, pompous, self righteous; fixed and frozen.

I do thank you for exposing your opinions btw.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

It was never possible for it to last forever, but the irresponsible governments of the last thirty years have just... massively squandered every facet of our military, economic, technological, and cultural authority.

We're a Dead Empire Walking, and our would-be rivals all know it.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

We know the reason for the failure of each and every Chinese dynasty for 2000 years continuously and from before that point in time.

The Chinese answer to every challenge and to each new conundrum is to increase the power and authority of the emperor.

We recall that the CCP Dictators in Beijing just made Xi Jinpingpong emperor for life. That is, Rinse and Repeat.

Bottom line is that Chinese don't learn. It could be because they can't learn. Chinese seem to have a natural resistance and opposition to learning. Chinese much prefer to be grandiose, aloof, pompous, self righteous; fixed and frozen.

I do thank you for exposing your opinions btw.

That comes off as rather racist.

 

[American]

The price of pork and pork products just went up considerably.

The major reason is that millions of pigs in China are dying from African Swine Fever.

I do hope however you guyz continue to enjoy your favorite breakfast or food. As for moi, my father always said I was a ham and egger from the start. Methinks he meant in more ways than one however.

China gets plenty of pork from its Smithfield plant in Virginia, I'm sure.

 

[theliq]

Will the United States retain it's status as the world's superpower for the foreseeable future?

Feel free to explain your choice if you want.

Well,at present China are already in the accendency in most parts of Asia and the Pacific Rim...America particually under Trump are Disloyal to their Allies,yet promote the likes of Russia and Saudi Arabi...,AMERICA ARE BECOMING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY,moreover under Trump...rightly or wrongly(RIGHTLY) seen as UNTRUSTWORTHY...The world have tired of America,the Bully,the Liars,Not a World Solver but the Worlds Problem Maker...Time to move over...You have LOST RESPECT & THE WORLD JUST ISN'T LISTENING TO YOU ANYMORE,YOU HAVE TAKEN US ALL FOR GRANTED,YOU MAY HAVE BEEN BADLY SERVED BY YOUR POLITIK...BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE...AND WE WON'T...AMERICA=ONLY SERVES ITSELF...END OF STORY...steve...Australia

 

[Idiometer]

President Trump is trying to make that happen. Guess what? Democrats hate him for it!

:2rofll:

Too funny! That old "liberals hate America" bit has been working for the uninformed since Obama's first term. The more its repeated, the sillier it becomes.

Does it not occur to you that those who abhor Donald Trump have good reasons for it?

- Personally, his attitudes towards women and most minorities disgust me.

- His history of racism is so obvious, I don't understand how anyone could possibly believe he isn't a racist.

- His habit of stiffing his building subcontractors, forcing them to sue him for what he owes by legal contract, then throwing lawyers and countersuits at them for years until, out of desperation, the cave and accept pennies on the dollar, often going out of business, shows him to be a cheater.

- The fact that he can't keep it zipped and has betrayed his marital vows to all three of his wives shows him to be unable to control his own impulses; it's a weakness.

I could go on and on for pages here, but that won't change the hold he has over those whose fears he plays on constantly. That's how he got elected, by telling you what to fear, who to blame for it, and that "I alone can fix it."

 

[Crystal]

:2rofll:

Too funny! That old "liberals hate America" bit has been working for the uninformed since Obama's first term. The more its repeated, the sillier it becomes.

Does it not occur to you that those who abhor Donald Trump have good reasons for it?

- Personally, his attitudes towards women and most minorities disgust me.

- His history of racism is so obvious, I don't understand how anyone could possibly believe he isn't a racist.

- His habit of stiffing his building subcontractors, forcing them to sue him for what he owes by legal contract, then throwing lawyers and countersuits at them for years until, out of desperation, the cave and accept pennies on the dollar, often going out of business, shows him to be a cheater.

- The fact that he can't keep it zipped and has betrayed his marital vows to all three of his wives shows him to be unable to control his own impulses; it's a weakness.

I could go on and on for pages here, but that won't change the hold he has over those whose fears he plays on constantly. That's how he got elected, by telling you what to fear, who to blame for it, and that "I alone can fix it."

If you loved America you would do what is good for America no matter the deep hatred you have for the President. You put party and resist, over country. You want open borders which is bad for America. You carried on a false narrative of Russia Russia Russia for two years and cost the taxpayer 35 million dollars to find there was no collusion. He is not causing fear, you liberals, your hatred, your behavior, are. You have done a brilliant job in dividing the country. It’s what the left does.

 

[Tangmo]

It was never possible for it to last forever, but the irresponsible governments of the last thirty years have just... massively squandered every facet of our military, economic, technological, and cultural authority.

We're a Dead Empire Walking, and our would-be rivals all know it.

That comes off as rather racist.

Well,at present China are already in the accendency in most parts of Asia and the Pacific Rim...America particually under Trump are Disloyal to their Allies,yet promote the likes of Russia and Saudi Arabi...,AMERICA ARE BECOMING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY,moreover under Trump...rightly or wrongly(RIGHTLY) seen as UNTRUSTWORTHY...The world have tired of America,the Bully,the Liars,Not a World Solver but the Worlds Problem Maker...Time to move over...You have LOST RESPECT & THE WORLD JUST ISN'T LISTENING TO YOU ANYMORE,YOU HAVE TAKEN US ALL FOR GRANTED,YOU MAY HAVE BEEN BADLY SERVED BY YOUR POLITIK...BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE...AND WE WON'T...AMERICA=ONLY SERVES ITSELF...END OF STORY...steve...Australia

Chinese are not supermen. CCP Dictator-Tyrants in Beijing are running an economy built around a shadow banking system that is outside the already screwball state banking schemes. You don't hear bad stuff because the Boyz don't allow it to come out. So you authoritarians sound as if you believe China is gliding along awesomely when it is not. The negatives exist and they are massive, you're just not going to get 'em on a platter -- except in this post yet only somewhat as there's a word limit.

Now that Huawei has been blacklisted by US Department of Commerce and a Potus Executive Order issued the Boyz standard Chinese grandiose fantasies about IT have been stopped cold. Their 5G technology scheme of control that is anyway based largely on stolen technology is now offset by US opposition.

The standard Chinese grandiose fantasy of the Belt and Road is nowhere. The one place that agreed to start construction, Pakistan, shut it down. Pakistan served to demonstrate why no country across Asia wants Chinese swarming all over their territory building highways, airports, railways, ports, digging canals, housing, commercial centers etc etc. The Belt and Road is predicated on Chinese money lent to each country that they can't pay back in a classic and blatantly obvious debt trap by Beijing. Color the grandiose BRI inert. DoA.


Global markets are awaiting the inevitable "major economic adjustment" the Boyz in Beijing keep sweeping under the proverbial rug. The Boyz have a lot of clout so they have a big broom that buys a lot of time which only makes the inevitable crash all the more devastating to their economy and financial systems that are anyway built on quicksand.

As with every new and grandiose Chinese dynasty the CCP is a young and nervous dynasty as they rack up the current 300 percent debt to GDP ratio. China is a succession of failed dynasties and nothing but because every dynasty's answer to every problem and challenge is to increase the authority of the emperor. Xi Jinpingpong as we know just got made emperor for life. Rinse and Repeat.

China is the classic house of cards. The Chinese are eternally grandiose fools.

 

[beancounter]

As long as we've got nukes, we'll keep the status quo.

 

[MrWonka]

Will the United States retain it's status as the world's superpower for the foreseeable future?

Feel free to explain your choice if you want.

The US will retain it's status as a super power so long as it has the money and the military might to do so. However, it's status as the leader of the free world is already gone. The day that Trump was elected the United States lost the title of leader of the free world. I'm not sure who you'd even look to right now, maybe Germany, France... possibly even Canada or some of the Scandinavian countries. But certainly not America. Nobody is look at us and saying "we should be more like them." Or "We should do what they do."

 

[Idiometer]

If you loved America you would do what is good for America no matter the deep hatred you have for the President. You put party and resist, over country. You want open borders which is bad for America. You carried on a false narrative of Russia Russia Russia for two years and cost the taxpayer 35 million dollars to find there was no collusion. He is not causing fear, you liberals, your hatred, your behavior, are. You have done a brilliant job in dividing the country. It’s what the left does.

Since I have never registered with any political party, your claim is complete nonsense. And the only people using the phrase "open borders" are Trump and right wing pundits who want you to be afraid of an "invasion" of immigrants. What liberals want is some much needed reforms to existing immigration laws, and more resources for immigration judges, border patrol agents and equipment, and additional facilities for detainees and their families while their cases are under review.

Russia's interference, along with dozens of contacts between them and Trump's people, is not a false narrative. I leave those to Trump. False narratives are all he has, and he knows his base will believe whatever he tells them, just as you seem to do.

Trump is unfit to lead this country, something he proves daily. That isn't partisan, that is based on his words and actions. Just yesterday I heard him claim that companies with manufacturing based in China are already losing because they have to pay his tariffs, and that some are considering moving those manufacturing jobs back here as a result. He's pulling that right out of his ass. This is proof that he still has no idea how tariffs and international trade work. The exporter does not pay tariffs. Tariffs are paid by importers, such as Walmart for example. Trump's tariffs are the reason Walmart has recently raised prices on goods imported from China, meaning that American consumers are paying his tariffs.

The deep divisions in this country began with Newt Gingrich in the 90s when he was Speaker of the House, hypocritically calling Clinton's behavior shameful (which it was) while cheating on his second wife. "Party before country" began there, and has gotten worse. You are blaming Democrats for divisions started and propagated by the right as well. Blaming everything on "them" without accepting your own part is dishonest.

 

[Phys251]

Perhaps, as long as we keep spending $700 Billion per year on the military.

However, it is unknown how we would fare should an enemy hit us first with a massive cyber-decapitation strike.

It is absurd that we overspend on planes, tanks, and ships, and underspend on cyberdefense. We've already been hit by small-scale attacks, and terrorists are not going to sit idly once they gain access to more technology.

Bonus: Fighting cyberwarfare costs a lot fewer human lives.

 

[SmartCat]

You're throwing darts blindfolded.

Someone could remove the dartboard and you'd never know it.

But who knows, maybe you and your Chinese could make the end of the century come sooner. Chinese have lived thousands of years already in their own fantasies. Inbred culturally and in their civilization as closed to the world as they remain. And if you are Chinese then you have known from birth never to believe a foreigner. Chinese believe only other Chinese.

How do you know, "Chinese believe only other Chinese?"

If you must know, I am a Judeoplhilic white Gentile who also admires Orientals. I have known a lot of Chinese Americans. Two were my best friends in high school. They never indicated that they did not trust me.

 

[SmartCat]

Chinese history has been stable compared with Western history. Extra terrestrial visitors who explored the earth in the year 1400 would have probably determined that China had the most advanced civilization on earth and that the Chinese would be the first nation to land people on the moon. The Chinese had a powerful government that kept the crime rate low and could respond to famines, floods, and epidemics. It was administered by a meritocracy open to all men and chosen by examination. Europe was still in the middle ages. Later on in that century the Chinese began to experiment with several inventions that might have begun the industrial revolution then and there. In the fifteenth century a Chinese fleet reached the western coast of Africa.

However, the Chinese were in a xenophobic mood, having recently expelled the Mongol conquerors. They decided that they were the middle kingdom, surrounded by barbarians, from whom they had nothing to learn. A Chinese emperor banned further overseas explorations and discouraged additional inventions. (The xenophobia of the time resembled American exceptionalism.)

The Imperial Exams had a paradoxical effect on China. They lasted for nearly two thousand years. Any man could take the exams. Those who passed were admitted to the Scholar Gentry. They were given large incomes and expected to have more than one wife, and many children. During this time there was more social mobility in China than anywhere else. Upward mobility was based on intelligence. Intelligent - or let us say, brilliant - men had many children who inherited their high IQ genes. Nevertheless, the tests were based on Chinese classics written before the time of Christ. They were not based on science, technology and government administration. Moreover, the tests favored rote memory and conventional understandings of the classics. Original insights into the classics was not valued. For two thousand years the most intelligent men in China looked backward rather than forward.

While a Chinese emperor forbade overseas exploration and discouraged new inventions Columbus discovered America and the Italian Renaissance began. A problem with the dynastic principle everywhere on earth is that men who inherit the throne are unlikely to inherit the political and military skills that enabled the founder of the dynasty to found his dynasty.

The Imperial Exams explain why the Chinese are good at learning discoveries and inventions made by Western civilization. Modern mathematics, at which Chinese excel, was developed in the West. The heliocentric theory of the solar system, the theory of evolution, and the theory of relativity were all pioneered by Westerners. Major inventions like the telegraph, the train, factories, radio communication, and the computer were all invented in the West by Westerners.

It remains to be seen if the Chinese can make discoveries and inventions comparable to these. Nevertheless, intelligence correlates with creativity. I think the Chinese can.

 

[SmartCat]

Bottom line is that Chinese don't learn. It could be because they can't learn. Chinese seem to have a natural resistance and opposition to learning. Chinese much prefer to be grandiose, aloof, pompous, self righteous; fixed and frozen.

You do not seem to have attended college. Chinese Americans dominate science and mathematics departments, especially at the best universities.

 

[SmartCat]

I voted yes... but I worry if we can continue being the top dog if democrats gain total power and start defense cuts in favor of things like health care, education and welfare for illegal aliens. Then it will be the' US will recede'.....:3oops:

Democrats would rather spend tax money improving lives than destroying them. We are funny that way.

 

[Herkamer63]

So long as the Left doesn't get it's way here, the US will remain the top super power. If you look at the US, it's a lot like the Roman Empire. The way it's established right now, no foreign power can bring it down: economically (except for MAYBE China, but even that's doubtful), military, opportunity, and legislatively. That's how the Roman Empire was. The only real way to make this country crumble is from within. Usually it happens by targeting its wallet by means of entitlement programs, government ran institutions, and new regulations. Look at Medicare For All ($30 trillion) and the Green New Deal ($90 trillion). Those two bills alone would wreck this country. $120 trillion is nothing to sneeze at. No country in the world has that kind of money. Even combining all the rich people in the world today can't match that. You would have to exhaust other countries' resources to get that amount. That doesn't even include our $20+ trillion national debt. So the only thing that would bring down the US is Leftist policy, not Right wing nor moderate policy. For now, thank God the Democrat field of Presidential candidates is filled idiotic, delusional people that accomplished NOTHING. At least nothing that they could ever hope to achieve like what Trump had. As long as we have someone in the White House, Congress, and SCOTUS, who ISN'T a Leftist, the US will remain the world's number 1 super power.

 

[SmartCat]

~ It's likely our grandchildren will see a very different America - not a better America . The march towards global socialist big government will continue. In the west the EU & UN are pushing this agenda. In the east it's China and likely soon North Korea . I envision a future White House with two flags - USA & Chinese .
Donald Trump is merely slowing down this progression. He is 25 years too late .

In the civilized world Donald Trump embodies the Ugly American. In the United States he exacerbates polarization. He embarrasses decent Americans before the world.:3oops:

 

[SmartCat]

So long as the Left doesn't get it's way here, the US will remain the top super power. If you look at the US, it's a lot like the Roman Empire. The way it's established right now, no foreign power can bring it down: economically (except for MAYBE China, but even that's doubtful), military, opportunity, and legislatively. That's how the Roman Empire was. The only real way to make this country crumble is from within. Usually it happens by targeting its wallet by means of entitlement programs, government ran institutions, and new regulations. Look at Medicare For All ($30 trillion) and the Green New Deal ($90 trillion). Those two bills alone would wreck this country. $120 trillion is nothing to sneeze at. No country in the world has that kind of money. Even combining all the rich people in the world today can't match that. You would have to exhaust other countries' resources to get that amount. That doesn't even include our $20+ trillion national debt. So the only thing that would bring down the US is Leftist policy, not Right wing nor moderate policy. For now, thank God the Democrat field of Presidential candidates is filled idiotic, delusional people that accomplished NOTHING. At least nothing that they could ever hope to achieve like what Trump had. As long as we have someone in the White House, Congress, and SCOTUS, who ISN'T a Leftist, the US will remain the world's number 1 super power.

One of the reasons the Western Roman Empire collapsed was growing economic inequality. Family farmers could not compete with large estates worked by slaves. When family farmers lost their farms they moved to the cities and became a propertyless and largely unskilled proletariat. (The word "proletariat" was originated by the Romans.) When the Western Roman Empire was invaded by German tribes the proletarians had nothing to fight for and little incentive to defend the Empire.

By contrast, in the Eastern Roman Empire the government intervened in the economy in order to preserve the family farms in return for military service by the farmers' sons. The Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire, survived for a thousand years after the Western Roman Empire fell.

America's national debt only became a national problem during the Reagan administration, when the GOP adopted the dogma that it is always a good idea to cut taxes for the rich, and never a good idea to raise them. Now Republican politicians are using the rise in the national debt, for which they are responsible, as an excuse to cut domestic spending programs they have never liked, but which they know are popular with the voters.