Is America in Decline?

Is America really in decline? The Drudge Report posted an editorial from the British paper The Financial Times entitles America Must Learn to Manage It’s Decline. The author claims that America must come to accept its decline in the world or risk having it worse than it is. He cited the United Kingdom in 1945 in coming to terms with the demise of Pax Britannia. He also stated that Britain prospered economically once it accepted its reduced role in the world.

Well, we aren’t Britain at the end of World War II which was dealing with massive destruction of its industrial capacity, an empire torn apart by the war, economically bankrupt, and incapable of reconstructing itself let alone any other part of the world. The British Empire didn’t decline. It collapsed in the war. Just like the Habsburgs and the Austro-Hungarian Empire did at the end of World War I. War is funny that way.

The fact that this editorial appeared in the Financial Times is indicative of how the world currently views Obama’s America. He views America as being in a zero sum game. Although he says he wants America to be number one, as in all things Obama, his actions are those of a person trying to manage a shrinking economy and shrinking power. And just in case it didn’t happen by itself, he would institute policies to make sure that it does.

America will never be a second class country. We are the third largest country in the world by population (behind China and India). We are blessed with abundant natural resources although Obama and his EPA cronies are doing their best to put them out of reach. The rest of the world still comes here for our universities and educational opportunities. Although the country is broke, most of our citizens are fairly well off and we still maintain a vibrant middle class contrary to progressive rhetoric.

That doesn’t mean other countries won’t advance as they achieve economic success based on one form of capitalism or another…whether it is state capitalism in China or crony capitalism in Russia or hard working capitalism like in India. After World War II, the United States was the only game in town. No one could expect that to last.

But just because other countries are finally achieving success doesn’t diminish our relevance or importance in the world. We have first and foremost a Constitution, Rule of Law, and a stable political system. The current gridlock in Washington isn’t a sign of our weakness. It is a sign of our strength. As the saying goes, we will finally stumble upon the correct policy after all others have failed. Notwithstanding the Standard and Poor’s debt downgrade, America is the ONLY safe haven in the financial world. That is the strength of our system and of our national character.

The risk of American decline will not be found in foreign countries overtaking our hegemony. The risk is found from within. Don’t listen to Obama. Don’t be fooled by utopian promises. Unlike Obama who has preyed on people’s fears, equality in America doesn’t mean that all people should have the same…that’s communism. In America, we are created equal by God who has given us equal opportunity to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our strength is in striving to give everyone an equal opportunity, equal life chances. We obviously don’t always achieve that, but we try. That is the great American quest.

America in decline? That will happen only if we choose to let it happen.