US influence has peaked:
Seven Taboo Political Subjects #6:
The Politics:
“USA! USA! The greatest country in the world! God blesses America!”
The Reality:
I love our country, full stop. But our future is dire if we don’t temper patriotic fever with a sober examination of our strengths and weaknesses. The first step in recovery is to acknowledge your problems….
No politicians will ever get elected by cheering “we’re #2”, but in fact, the US will soon be the world’s second largest economy.
We have the largest defense infrastructure in the world by far, but lack the stomach to enforce our desires militarily, and struggle to win on foreign soil. Nor have we achieved equally important economic and political leadership by pragmatically investing in other country’s development- America despises foreign aid, while other nations wield it as a strategic weapon.
Our math, reading and science high school test scores languish in the middle of the pack internationally. In the 1940’s there were only 500 universities in the world, with the top campuses located in the US. We led the world. Today, there are over 10,000 universities and the best and brightest students look elsewhere. The very same people who powered our post-war expansion now vote with their feet. Putting our most important trade surplus at risk.
Our nation is internationally ranked as a flawed democracy (26/167), losing its moral high ground to preach and inspire by example. Why would an immigrant fleeing tyranny want to live in the 129th of 163 most peaceful countries?
We lag badly in prenatal care (ranking a shameful 32nd on neonatal deaths and 47th on infant mortality) and face the consequences of staggering obesity rates. Inequality is at an all-time high, while upward mobility has stalled at the bottom.
America remains a vibrant beacon to those fleeing tyranny or seeking economic opportunity, though our shining reputation is increasingly reflected off past glories. Without an honest, public accounting of our current condition, we are likely to fall farther behind and not make the hard decisions required to hold our place on the world stage.
Complacency and arrogance are the true enemies of America.
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