The EU is definitely well suited to become the next Superpower, its economy is already larger than that of the USA. Europe is an industrial powerhouse, more large corporations are based in the EU than in the United States. The Euro is thrashing the US Dollar on world markets, its getting to the point that even those CNBC reporters are wondering about the Dollar's future. Without a strong economic foundation you cannot build an Empire. The Europeans have achieved the impossible, uniting a Continent that was long plagued by war and division. The Vatican and the Catholic Church are also playing a key role in unifying Europe. In trouble spots around the world, people are looking to Europe now for assistance, most notably in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict comes to mind, as both sides are looking to Europe to play a much bigger role.
The world has been largely disappointed with the current US administration, even if "Change" comes to the White House this year, its not going to change diminished worldwide perceptions of the US at all. All three candidates vying for the Presidency don't seem to stir up much enthusiasm. Obama did for a little while but now turned out to be another yuppie not a Churchill like figure. McCain is too old and will probably repeat the mistakes of the current administration. Clinton largely seems to stir up negative feelings. Like it or not the pages of history are turning to a new chapter. On top of that the US is losing its industrial base to China and other developing Asian nations such as India. The world is going to be very different.

...and so?

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

...dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria...no more This Old House episodes...etc.

...there is an old saying: dont succumb to bait....I need a cola now...a diet cola..

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I am a Jedi Spammer,
My sword represents the Force,
And I represent spam which has righteousness.
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I am in a serious relationship....with med school.This semester I am sleeping with Physiology.......books

i dont think that's a saying. A saying usually in made in more poetic terms. this is really more conventional wisdom.

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

.... yeah.....I love this forum.....

__________________
I am a Jedi Spammer,
My sword represents the Force,
And I represent spam which has righteousness.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am in a serious relationship....with med school.This semester I am sleeping with Physiology.......books

And so the United States of America will no longer be the Golden Shining Star of the Earth, the God Blessed Promised Land, that has been the envy of the world for so long, and for much of the 20th Century. It will just be another nation, and one plagued with debts and unsolved chronic problems. The world's attention will go elsewhere. Part of this aura is the basis for why Americans today can live the way they do in abundance and with a very comfortable standard of living, this will not last much longer, the world has been gladly investing in America because of this strong perception which is now fading. The wealthy elites will probably still maintain their riches, but Middle America will largely decline, and America will probably resemble what Brazil is today, a third world nation with a small but superrich elite that control the rest of the population.