Dear Julie,
another piece to show how Australian pollies (and coalition are the worse offenders) really have no grasp of what is the fate of the world.
You say "while you do not subscribe to the theory that the US is in an irreversible decline" It is.
Then you say "Whoever wins the election will face a massively challenging environment, as the US balances its mounting debts with the need to stimulate growth."
Now stimulating growth sounds good but is doomed to failure. There is no way that the oxymoron of sustainable growth can work. The world is running out of just about everything and the population is increasing at a gallop.
There will come a time, quite soon, when the supply of consumables will start to run out and the demand from the population will continue to increase. It is hard to work out the catastrophic effect.
It will make not an atom of difference who wins either of the "elections". Armageddon is approaching.

As for a "massively challenging environment" - the U.S. economy appears to be cascading down a one-way street.

Last November there was a bit hoo-hah when their debt to GDP hit 15 trillion.....it's now nearly 15.8 trillion and closing in on the 16 trillion mark - in 8 months!

http://www.usdebtclock.org

Julie lives in a world of make-believe. The capitalist system, which rests on the twin pillars of greed and exploitation, is all but dead and buried and here she is hoping for its rebirth.

She should move to Disneyland. That's where dreamers who dislike reality congregate!

Last December, David Ignatious from the Washington Post Writers Group commented on the Global Trends 2030 study which explored how well the US is prepared to shape the global future. The key is how the US responds to adversity. Relative to its competitors the US still has an adaptive financial system, strong global corporations, a culture that can tap the talents of a diverse population and an unmatched military. The nation's chronic weakness he concluded was its political system which is nearing dysfunction. If the US can elect better political leadership, it should be able to manage problems better than competitors.

The same applies to China and Australia.

There is no way that the USA can balance its need to reduce debt versus the idea that it must stimulate its economy. the marginal productivity of new debt in the USA already went massively negative a couple of years ago. Go here to see the amazing graph:

http://economicedge.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/guest-post-and-more-on-most-important.html

What that means is that any borrowing to stimulate the US economy actually now REDUCES GDP!

The US economy will never grow again (other than in terms of additional "printed" currency) since it no longer has the additional energy required to do so. The ultrahyped shale gas bubble is now bursting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1386Jt17myY

The world economy needs energy to grow Julie - when you finally understand that you will understand the true depth of our problem.

Julie, as usual you show your complete ignorance to reality.

America is in decline, like the Roman Empire it may take some time but every social, economic and environmental criteria show that this country is in irreversible decline.

No matter the result of elections in the US and China, how about placing your focus on the myriad issues facing this country.

I am just dumb-founded by your ignorance.

I could go on and on, but what is the point, you never respond to any of the comments on OLO, perhaps you could get one of your minions to respond on your behalf on occasion.

For the record, global per capita growth is over, caput, just think about this for a minute and next time you post something, put some rational behind your blinkered view of the world.