The 21st Century Satan

[Lemur]

Can I please have an opinion as to why?
Why is this no defferent than believing Al Gore?
It's fact right? Proved by economics?

Lemur-no offense, but I don't see it. I see a dearth of insight in my generation. [...] Motivation is either dead or misguided. Maybe Wisconsin is different.

Who knew that suggesting America's future is bright would be so controversial?

Let's look at some basics. America's greatest strength is our ability to re-invent ourselves. We're like Madonna, adjusting our economy and our persona every couple of years to better exploit the gay dance market, or in our nation's case, the world economy. But the gay dance market and the world economy aren't that different, really.

I don't know how to respond to broad generalizations about "my generation" except to say that such talk is a constant, no matter what time period you examine, and it never means much of anything. I'm sure Napoleon's Hussars were peeved about how standards had slipped by 1816, and would grouse into the night about these new, soft little Hussars who barely deserved the name much less the uniform. Pick a time period, pick a subject, and there's going to be grumbling about how the new kids have it so much better than the old kids, and they're such brats, etc. etc. etc.

So let's get back to America, and why we're gonna rock the 21st Century like a hurricane.

Wanna get into software development? Better get your butt to the U.S.A. Wanna design any high-tech device worth talking about, whether it's an Intel chip, a 3G iPhone or a shiny new medical device? Better get to the U.S.A., kids. Wanna study aviation? Better learn the universal language, English, and study at one of our schools. Wanna get ahead on the internet tubes? Well, the best development is happening in the U.S.A.

Wanna get next to the latest and greatest drugs and medical advances? You ain't gonna find them in Mumbai or New Delhi, friend. And forget about Shenzen. U.S.A., baby! And even the fields we've shamefully neglected, such as green power, are advancing faster here than elsewhere. Who's building the neatest and newest home fuel-cell devices? We are. Who's making the most efficient solar cells? We are.

Nah, there's two things you can count on: (1) Things are usually getting better, and (2) people are saying things are getting worse.

It's early days yet in the American Hegemony. We're not encumbered with an expensive empire (as were the Brits and the Romans), we're still vigorous and strong, and a long ways off from rotting from within (as with the Byzantines and the Ottoman Empire), and as soon as we can get our sandy buttocks out of Iraq, we'll start building goodwill amongst our friends and allies again.

We are a great power, and we've the potential to become much greater. I laugh at those who say America's best days are behind her. Hang around, friend, and watch what happens. Things are going to be interesting in the best sense of the word.