Reg,
An old mate of mine who is with the Assembly of God tells me that it states in the bible that North America, more precisely U.S.A. and Britian will rule the world. So we see our futures before us, Australian Parliament, what Australian Parliament, we shall follow your lead Bud!

GW Bush has not made a good fist of things and that’s for sure. The shock of 9/11 revealed a fat, rich and lazy USA that was convinced its hegemony was enough to make any terrorist think twice.

The reason the USA economy might look sick is the flight of capital from the USA to China and other emerging Asian countries. I don’t agree with that notion the waking Asian Tigers have repristinated the ancient glamour of Confucian-Daoist thought and turned it into a marketing mantra. Surely ancient texts would have rejected any foreign involvement. It would appear that the local populations are not the only ones riding on the backs of the Asian Tigers. Let’s hope that as these economies grow the wealth might reach the locals. Maybe a few foreign words might enter the Asian lexicon, words like ‘trade union’ and ‘superannuation’ and ‘workers compensation’ and others. I wonder if their rise would be so quick?

As Western culture recedes should China be this century’s cultural exemplar when juxtaposed with the quaint Chinese practice of allowing prisoners to work for the grand sum of a bowl of rice and a boot up the arse daily. Would Chinese and Indian officials warmly welcome Amnesty International and other NGOs lecturing them about the percentage of GDP which must be allocated to foreign aid? As Chinese culture leads the world into this new century will it still censor the internet?

Interesting times ahead. Please observe the ‘seat-belt’ warning sign.

What year was this piece written in? The very same article could have been written in 1988 would have had tons of adherents. East Asian cultures have many positive and laudable attributes most notably their discipline and willingness to work hard. But the great genius of the West is its creativity and near worship of innovation. The Eastern cultures lack this. When writers like this one were singing the praises of Japan and the Confucian cultures 15 years ago, something called the internet came along and it didn't come out of Asia.

rogindon,
Very true, but they were not killing yanks at that particular time, not in large numbers anyway. The western world seems to think that terrorism began on the 11th of November 2001. Aparently yanks are more precious than the rest of us, which is why the world dislikes them with a passion. Have they found those WMD yet? The reason ol' George started this war, how people don't vote against a lunatic like him I will never know, a born again Christian A.O.G. once described by our Queensland National party Senator as the lunatic right, thou shalt not kill? They are hypocrits, and so is our rodent and public opinion is finally coming around to common sense in Australia it seems with opinion polls reflecting opposition at last.

Economic power doesn't neccessarily translate into world dominance and sustained superpowerdom. In the last 300 years super power status has shifted along the France, Uk, US axis. Along the way there have been many challenges such as from Russia/Soviet Union, Germany and Japan. While they may have been dominant or challenging for a generation in terms of economics, lack of internal reforms meant that they could not compete at the highest level.

Imho China has gone through a spectacular industrial transformation, perhaps a bit like the SU in the 30's but unless their economic success is followed by internal reforms and social justice I think it will collapse on itself. The American and Australian dream, that is if you work hard you can own your own house and provide for your family, is a powerful motivator that works again and again for every generation. Working hard for the survival or pride of the nation only works for a single generation after that everyone just drops out.

This article is extremely important, it identifies a real problem, but points to the wrong root causes.

First..Shonga.. that friend of yours is espousing "British Israelism" please do a search and find out about this. It is a cultish heresy. I'm not aware of it being a widespread view among AOG's but will keep my ears open.

ROOT CAUSES for Anglo/American decline.

Its quite simple really. Have look at the early pioneering pictures of the 'bullockies' clearing land here in Victoria. The incredible hard work, stamina and read of the times in great Poems like Clancy of the Overflow, Man from Snowy river etc. We did have a great work ethic, and so did the yanks.

Contrast that with today, especially since the 60s. Abandonment of our Christian values, which include HARD WORK (Parable of the talents) and embracing of the me me meeeeeeeeeeeee world view, the swallowing hook line and sinker of the opiate of the masses, i.e. Pornography and sexual permissiveness, the pulling up of the spiritual anchor which gave us meaning, direction and a basis for enduring values. No society has ever survived it's own decadence.

But the article points falsely to the idea that China and Korea and Japan did it by 'noble confucian and daoist' philosophical ideas.
No.. it was as follows:

a)Copy the existing technology of the West (Anglo/American)
b)Use VERY cheap labor to make VERY cheap copies.
c)Market these cheap copies in the places of their origin and force the inventors/manufacturers to go bust.
d)Keep labor costs down by threat of military detention (China)
e)Don't give a damn about any social safety net nor pollution of the environment

That....is how its happening. I suppose, following the authors logic this is Confucianism and Daoism ?
Well, whether it is or isn't I reject it. I know where I stand, and it is in Christ. If the nation chooses to go on the slippery dip to economic, social and spiritual hell, I won't be on it.

and now.... N.Korea has the BOMB.

The ONLY thing now between us and oblivion is the Anglo American alliance.