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The Forum > Article Comments > America’s primacy: Is decline imminent? > Comments

America’s primacy: Is decline imminent? : Comments

By Russell Trood, published 15/6/2005

Russell Trood argues the US must place its power, purpose and primacy on a new foundation.

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Since 9/11 the US has proven too much of a rule-breaker not only in international politics with its preemptive strike on Iraq, but also in the economic field with its abuse of its own-sponsored WTO laws indicated by its massive subsidies especially in grain production, and of course its refusal to honour the Kyoto Agreement.

Especially since 9/11 US arrogance has turned into elitism no doubt having always been in the American psyche inherited from Calvinism which during the Reformation was actually a religous return to the Old Testament, honouring the non-Christian Promised Land syndrome, as well as the Jewish belief in the profit motive. Sympathy with Israel of course, has only made it stronger, the nasty means to an end philosophy so much exampled today in Iraq. Moreover, with trade, so much is indicated by the worrying fall in our Australian wheat prices, mostly caused by US and Europe dumping subsidised grain at a low price, stealing third world markets as well as those of Australia. No need to further speak about global warming, when hungry Exxon and Mobil as well as Murdoch Enterprises, are calling the American tune. Indeed, there is no need to say any more about the reasons for US global unpopularity.
Posted by bushbred, Wednesday, 15 June 2005 12:07:22 PM
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"...Jewish belief in the profit motive. ... No need to further speak about global warming, when hungry Exxon and Mobil as well as Murdoch Enterprises, are calling the American tune. "
Posted by bushbred

Funny - I hadn't realised Exxon/Mobil and Newscorp were run by Jews. But I guess that's part of the Jewish global conspiracy - to make us all think Rupert Murdoch is a Gentile. Ever noticed how much he looks like Yitzhak Rabin? And you never see the two of them together. Yep - those Jews are mighty clever.

Just one thing bothers me. If it's really about oil, why hasn't the US thrown Israel to the Arab wolves long ago? That certainly would have appeased the Arabs.
Posted by W_Howard, Wednesday, 15 June 2005 2:08:49 PM
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It seems to me the US has problems that the current adminstration cannot address
1) it may take a decade for diplomatic and environmental blunders to be patched up
2) it has to balance the books with respect to the budget and trade account
3) it has to adapt to expensive resources

Europe and Asia know they have the head start in these respects. It now seems impossible for the US to recover lost ground.
Posted by Taswegian, Wednesday, 15 June 2005 5:18:04 PM
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The emergence of China, coupled with large numbers of Chinese in all the major south east Asian countries, added to this the fact that they control pretty much most of all those economies, coupled with a state which has captured the best of capitalism and coupled it with the best of communism ('best'= effective) i.e. the rape of the environment and resources, both human and material to maximize the profit, while keeping a hold on power so that the 'proletariat' can never complain about the artificially low labor rates which keep Chinese goods competitive unfairly, you have pretty much all the ingredients for a war.

The USA will eventually wake up to the impact China is having on its own economy, but in particular the people (workers) and those who are benefitting from it now, will be seen as the short term carpet baggers they really are, and there will be strife unrest and trouble on a rather large scale.

Nothing has really changed since the Spartans decided not to slaughter the Athenian men and enslave their women after victory in the 27yr war, not out of sympathy for them, but to keep them as a buffer against a current ally (but emerging competitor) of Sparta, Thebes.

Alliances, power vacuums, invasians, same old same old. Just less with weapons these days. China probably thinks "We remember.... the opium wars, the wests gunboat diplomacy, but now.... its OUR turn".

So there are no good guys or bad guys here, just people like us, caught up in the middle of it all, born into one side or the other.
Living by chance on the crest or the ebb of the current historical wave.

I smile when people suggest that something like the UN or some 'international court' can fix or run things, and actually appear to believe it.

As for me and mine, we prefer the kingdom of God.
Posted by BOAZ_David, Wednesday, 15 June 2005 8:28:21 PM
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I really enjoyed reading this article and thought it addressed the issues fairly. Reading the anti-Americanism propaganda doesn't both me at all. Most of the times I find those posts humorous. These posters don't realize many of the reasons behind the Bush Administration's decisions.

For example, when they talk about the U.S. not working with the United Nations, there is a reason for this. A central point of Bush's push for 'Freedom and Democracy' is to allow citizens to be the decision makers. The closer government is to the people, the better. The U.N. should be a place to discuss issues between nations. However, when this institution begins making policy, it turns into a very un-democratic institution. Nobody in the U.S. elected reprehensive in France to determine how they should protect their interests. Also, if American's are concerned with the Kyoto agreement, they will vote in politicians who will support that treaty. Government should be as small, and as close to the people, as possible.

I am not saying American politics are always correct...they aren't. But they are doing something that they think is right. I would rather have a team that was DOING SOMETHING that talking and never really making any movement.
Posted by JollyJames, Thursday, 16 June 2005 4:49:43 AM
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To Jolly James,

Looks like you need to study a bit of history, mate, especially in the Middle East. Sounds like you believe that power whether good or bad must have the say. At present in this world it has become bad top power, mostly run by oil-hungry US wheeler dealers, who also need lessons in morality. George W' also has a stack of zionists, neo-cons and ex-Israelis giving advice. What I am getting at Jolly James, is when you talk about giving a go to leaders prepared to make a move, just try to analyse what sort of leaders you are allowing to make the move.

Bushbred
Posted by bushbred, Thursday, 16 June 2005 12:37:57 PM
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No country’s policies are always correct, if anything, we are lucky if they are regularly correct, or at least once-in-a-blue-moon correct. To excuse a government’s behavior because it thinks that what it is doing is right is very dangerous. Hitler’s government thought that what they were doing was right. It was not. Stalin’s government thought the same. It was not. Castro believes that what he is doing is right. It is not. And Bush believes that what he is doing is right. It is not. Governments make mistakes. In the case of a country like the US, given its size, influence and importance, its actions have colossal impact. The US government cannot afford to just be doing something for the sake of doing, as you suggest. The US, and all countries, needs to be very careful about its actions.

I think you need to expand your views a bit more and acquire an educated view of world affairs. The excuses you have given for America’s behaviour show that you have not really given much thought to the state of the world today and that perhaps you have overdosed on Bush-friendly mediatic propaganda. Bush is not the devil, but he is no angel either. No one is above criticism. Not even the US. America has more friends than you think, but its behavior lately has ensured that, increasingly, friends don’t answer phone calls very often, and may even pretend not to be at home sometimes. A little humility would go a long way. For France, the US and indeed most Western countries.
Posted by Polo, Thursday, 16 June 2005 9:43:35 PM
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I think your approach to anti-americanism is naïve and rather arrogant. A lot of people are anti-american for a reason, not only to pass the time. True, some of their arguments are biased and often times exaggerated, but it was people who held those “humorous” views who attacked the US in 2001. To ignore them is just folly.

You really believe that American citizens are the decision makers? If they were, America would not be afflicted with 3rd –world type illnesses whilst passing itself off as a – or rather THE- 1st world nation par excellence. Poverty, death penalty, low education standards, no national health care, rising crime, and a long list of etceteras. If Americas were truly the decision makers, these problems would have been addressed a long time ago.

The UN is a place to discus issues between nations. All of its decisions are agreed upon in a vote- they are called Resolutions, which given the nature of the UN, they are not legally binding, only morally so. The only un-democratic part of the UN is the fact that 5 major countries are in the Security Council and hold the power of veto. One of those countries is the US. The US cannot expect for the UN or indeed any other foreign body to pass only US-friendly policies. Why should they? What is good for America is not necessarily good for the world. Examples? There are thousands. During WWI & WWII it was good for America not to get involved. And yet events forced them to do so after millions of people were killed. Had the US intervened sooner, millions would not have died. These days, Kyoto. The US does not have a divine mandate to unilaterally destroy the environment for profit. Bush’s cronies will try of course, it is human nature to do so. However, no amount of propaganda can change the facts. The environment needs protection, not just from the US, but from the industrialised world.
Posted by Polo, Thursday, 16 June 2005 9:45:01 PM
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In studying the United States and it's overall great success, you have to remember our heritage and very reason for American existence. Accordingly to American Founder and Virginia Governor Patrick Henry, "It can not be stated too strongly ot too often, that this great nation was not founded on religion...but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ...for this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."

In short, despite our social and economic challenges, in spite of challenges that the USA might occur...this nation was founded on non-denominational, Christian principles. This ideology today, greatly impacts who we select in leadership areas, what we do for recreation, and how we live our very lives. President Ronald Reagan and Presidnet George W.Bush were elected due to thier strong spiritual faith.

be blessed, in Christ

CH (LTC) Jeff Burnsed
Posted by chjeff, Monday, 20 June 2005 12:57:47 PM
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Having just spent a week in four US States last week, from California to Indiana, I observed that this is a vast and complex federation of different peoples. Its resilience and intelligence are not to be underestimated. Any attempt to stereotype the country is banal.

America is not finished. Its adaptation to new realities in Europe and Asia will be pivotal this century. I think its ability to re-tack after serious administrative and political failures is its strength. Americans are not stupid.

If the USA disintegrates, we go with it. I think internal degeneration from moral failure, political correctness, double talk and bloated unresponsive bureaucracies are major systemic errors that need addressing in all Western countries. Foreign policy needs to be subtler.

Every country should be judged by how it treats its poor as well as the poor of other countries such as by trade initiatives. A failure to address this sows the seed of public discord and thus disintegration. As for "ruler breakers", every nation has its own blind spots and we Australians are included. Short and deficient memories, lack of knowledge of history and national narcissism contribute to this myopic attitude.

Travel broadens minds and reduces the likelihood of stereotypic responses.
Posted by Odysseus, Wednesday, 29 June 2005 5:12:43 PM
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