Sunday 21 August 2011

Is the USA in a state of decline?



3 comments:

  1. The united states of America are the initiators of the capitalism system. It is today seen as the only economic system functioning in the globalization of the XXI century.
    In order to generate Economic growth American also created consumerism. Basically it means that the more people buy products and consume the wealthier the country is going to get.
    I do believe America is a state of decline, because I think that Economic growth is not infinite and we need to find other ways to live. We cannot buy 5 I phones or 10 TV every years, it is just not possible. The Ecological Impact of such a system is a catastrophe we cannot wreck or planet continuously, USA can still live today as they do because there are so many poor countries around the word that do not even have access to electricity. Those countries do not consume as USA do. However we know that countries of huge population are getting into globalization, the risk is to see them becoming consumers such as American, why would we forbid them, we all did so. America, European Union and Japan, the most industrialized countries should show the way to less globalised countries. Capitalism must be re-thought; I think we need to get into some kind of “Economic Decrease” for some parts of our industries.
    An American writer, Ronald Wright, said something I totally agree with:
    "Our civilization, which subsumes most of its predecessors, is a great ship steaming at speed into the future. It travels faster, further, and more laden than any before. We may not be able to foresee every reef and hazard, but by reading her compass bearing and headway, by understanding her design, her safety record, and the abilities of her crew, we can, I think, plot a wise course between the narrows and the bergs looming ahead.
    And I believe we must do this without delay, because there are too many shipwrecks behind us. The vessel we are now aboard is not merely the biggest of all time; it is also the only one left. The future of everything we have accomplished since our intelligence evolved will depend on the wisdom of our actions over the next few years. Like all creatures, humans have made their way in the world so far by trial and error; unlike other creatures, we have a presence so colossal that error is a luxury we can no longer afford. The world has grown too small to forgive us any big mistakes."

    Nicolas Richard

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  2. The United States of America has dominated the world since it helped win the second World War. Since that time, it has imposed its way of life and way of thinking on the world's population... Societies have adopted capitalism, an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production, and the creation of goods and services in order to make profits. In other words, the USA has introduced mass consumerism and the idea of unlimited profits by any means.

    It has built a very strong economy and developed international trade, and maintained a strong and intimidating army, so as to be "the best" in the world. I has succeeded, but at what price?

    It's obvious that the USA can't continue on this path. First of all, national debt is getting out of control. Secondly, political battles between Democrats and Republicans aren't solving the problem. Third, mass consumption in the USA has a huge impact on the environment. Finally, terrorist activities such as the attack on the World Trade Center (09/11/01), aimed to weakening American power, shows that the USA will not be able to continue to rule the whole world...

    The USA is in a state of decline and it should accept to be part of a new multipolar world.

    Lucas Coudert

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  3. I do not agree with Lucas and Nicolas. There is a crisis, and the USA like every country is having difficulties, but this is not a country in decline. The USA is still the first economic power, the first industrial power and the first military power in the world. It is present everywhere. Futhermore, it exports the American way of life all around the world. Hollywood invades ours cinemas for instance. To finish, we can say that it runs the world: Israel would need its support before attacking Iran, it leads NATO, and there isn't any intervention in the world if the USA doesn't take part...

    Thibaud BERARD, élève de Terminale S1

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