"The Post American World"

"The Post American World"

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"The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 6:47:37 AM

casts_by_fly

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Hi guys,

Some of you may have heard of this book from the publicity around Barack Obama reading it (and being called a terrorist for doing so). Having aroused my curiosity with the publicity, I bought the book and read it. It is a very informative book and well written. It lays out what the future will look like over the next 25-50 years in socioeconomic and political terms. It is not about the fall of america in any context, rather the rise of the rest of the world to US levels of power. I would advise anyone to read it.

Or, if you'd like the Cribb notes, there is an article on CNN which reports on a government sponsored study about future trends in 2025. It isn't as well written as the book (and to be fair isn't based on the book), but the conclusions are largely the same. Worth a read, and if you'd like more reasons why it is happening or will happen then buy the book and read it.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/20/global.trends.report/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

Thanks,
Rick

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 7:43:03 AM

CRAPPIE_SLAYER

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Haven't read the book, but the article you posted was an interesting read. Only being in my late 20's, It makes me wonder what all I'm gonna see in my lifetime. Better put the seatbelt on, I think its gonna be a bumpy ride.

(in reply to casts_by_fly)

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 8:21:13 AM

rapala11

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the article states the inevitable. i may not be on this rock at that time, but there certainly will be challenges to be met. hopefully, the pressure will be off of us a bit since we may not be the top dog with the emergence of foreign powers. although not stated in the article, i would imagine food and the ability to produce it will become a poker chip also. with the population rising as stated, all those critters walking upright will want to be fed.

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 10:04:21 AM

casts_by_fly

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hi guys,

Not everything in the report should be taken as foregone conclusions. The 1997 report made some predictions based on 2010 of which were about 50-75% right. But, this report also goes into some fairly specific topics. The book is a bit more general. It is talking about the "rise of the rest" and goes into detail about China and India. Yes, without a doubt resources are going to become a lot more scarce as the population continues to grow. We are already above the natural carrying capacity of the earth and food is in shortage globally. As the population grows by a billion people per ten years we'll only go worse.

We will still be the top dog as far as military power goes, overall economic production, and a whole host of other categories. What will happen though is that we'll not have a monopoly on those positions. At the moment and historically we've been so far ahead of everyone in every category that we've been a monopolar power. There has been no one else to challenge us because we were so much bigger. As a result, we'd make decisions and the world would listen and abide. If they didn't like it they knew where to stick it. Now and in the future though, we'll have to take into consideration the rest of the worlds views. You started to see it at the beginning of the Iraq war when we decided that we were going in. Most of the rest of the world was against it and wasn't afraid to voice themselves. That was a big change from the past. At the moment though, most of the world doesn't have the economic might to do anything about it (though their polictical might is another story). In the near future there will be other powers in the world that we will have to consider.

Thanks,
Rick

(in reply to rapala11)

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 10:12:44 AM

rapala11

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rick, if ever you get the chance, read the visage report, if you can still find it. it parallels what you have said but adds that if there is to be a major military conflict, it will be between china and russia and it will be fought over the oil reserves in russia. sure am glad that God loves me. someday i won't have to worry about how man screws up all the gifts given him and will be fishing in a nice place.

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 10:58:59 AM

bulldog1

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While we all agree or disagree on the way our country has played it's role in the world, do you think that countries like China and India will be as magnanamous as we have been? Yes, this country has made some mistakes, but we've also been one of the most generous and first to respond when need arises anywhere on the globe. I don't see some of these other countries having that same outlook. I do not like the way that some people seem to be enjoying the erosion of the United States' place in the world, it's not going to be a good thing for most of the world.

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 12:08:50 PM

spoonchucker

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Bull,

It is not a matter of "enjoying" it. It's about recogniizing it, and questioning wether we, or our leaders are prepared for it.

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RE: "The Post American World" - 11/21/2008 1:26:53 PM

DanesDad

Posts: 2187
Joined: 3/21/2005
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We wont be the only big fish in the pond, that's for sure. I think that's why it is important to become as close to self sufficient as possible, when it comes to our energy needs. Big demand for finite resources will drive up price.

(in reply to spoonchucker)

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