Freedom Folks: Why the US Will Still be the Only Superpower in 2030

The Futurist dons his prognosticator's cap and peers into the uncertain future with a piece bearing this provocative title.

He begins...

One of the most popular dinner party conversation topics is the possibility that the United States will be joined or even surpassed as a superpower by another nation, such as China. China has some very smart people, a vast land area, and over four times the population of the US, so it should catch up easily, right? Let's assess the what makes a superpower, and what it would take for China to match the US on each pillar of superpowerdom.

Overall I agree wholeheartedly, with one caveat. I'll let Honest Abe have the reply...

"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume I, "Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum,of Springfield, Illinois (January 27, 1838), p. 109.

Just so, my contention, expressed before on this blog is that while our moneyed, free trade pirates roam the globe fattening like tics off unfree trade, they leave us exposed through dangerous alliances and trade agreements with the very governments we should be staring at over a loaded gun.

As they cheerfully provide the sick Communist regime in China with billions of dollars which they are only too happy to pour into arms and defenses, our internal dissenters hollow us out from inside leaving us dangerously weakened.

The true enemy here isn't the Chinese, or rather, they are an honest enemy, an unabashed enemy. I can respect that, the free trade pirates are another matter entirely. When their millions will no longer suffice, when there's nothing left in America to loot, what next?

I say as I always have, I am a capitalist -- but, I believe in ethical capitalism. When capitalism begins promoting slavery over hiring proper citizens, when it demands the right to move it's facilities to other countries and yet enjoy the benefits of being an American company and doing business here, well, I part company right there, that's my line.

When it demands we bare our throats to our enemies so they can squeeze a few more shekels out before the next 9-11 wreaks havok on the economy. This is my manifesto, I will no longer accept free trade pirates wrapping themselves in the flag and demanding we ignore our lying eyes and trust them.

Trust them when they tell us the invasion pouring over our southern border is good for us, when they tell us that Islam is something other than a psychotic excuse to kill, when they pretend putting those who hate this country in charge of huge corporations is a wonderful thing. Putting those who hate this country and all she stands for, puttig their weak willed hands on the rudder of state.

There has always been a tension and a balance in this country between the moneyed class and a representative government. The last time it was this out of whack was, oddly enough, during the great wave of immigration at the turn of the last century.

The exact same lies were trotted out, the lower classes were insulted and spat upon in the exact same way, and most of all we were being fed the same bullshit and were told it was filet mignon.

It wasn't then and it ain't now. It's time to pull our government out of the clutches of those who can't see beyond profit. Those who see this country as nothing more than a machine from which to extract money, post-Americans. Our system of government is based on checks and balances, what we have today is another branch of government, the business wing of the government. What checks and balances apply to them, who will tell them no?

Especially when weak willed politicians find their sustenance and life's blood in the same clawed hand that is attempting to pull down our borders and destroy our way of life, our ditinct culture and heritage. Those very things that make us Americans and have made America something special.

I have noticed the free trade pirates gravitate to Ronald Reagan. Assuming incorrectly that he entirely shared their philosophy, in my opinion I don't think he did...

The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.

And what are those ideals? That all nation states stand in the way of profits? That no country has a right to distinct heritage? That we should no longer see ourselves as distinctive Americans?

A final thought from Mr. reagan before I close. As you free trade pirates smugly explain that it's really too bad that we can't help our poorer citizens, that we really don't understand how free markets work...