American doesn't deserve to be world leader

@sonhouse said
It looks like the American experiment was just a fluke.

We are unable to govern OURSELVES much less the world and now we are reaping the result of our loss of influence.

Of course to the insurrectionist scum here at RHP and around the country, they don't give a rats ass about anything outside the US.

We stand alone now with our enemies dancing in the streets and all these scumbags hypnotized by Trump can do is scream HANG PENCE and Dems STOLE the election.

What was the US world leader in?

Music? Well, I am an admirer of Springsteen and Waits...

Films? Pulp Fiction and The Big Lebowski (and of course Star Wars) are my favourite movies.

But other than that? What did they lead on to be proud of?

Losing wars all over the place?

Implementing regime change all over the world (with terrible consequences for local populations)?

Infusing capitalism all over world (with terrible consequences for everyone involved)?

Fast food?

Plastic tits?

What?

The US has always seemed mediocre at best.

@sonhouse said
It looks like the American experiment was just a fluke.

We are unable to govern OURSELVES much less the world and now we are reaping the result of our loss of influence.

Of course to the insurrectionist scum here at RHP and around the country, they don't give a rats ass about anything outside the US.

We stand alone now with our enemies dancing in the streets and all these scumbags hypnotized by Trump can do is scream HANG PENCE and Dems STOLE the election.

I don’t think America is a world leader, it’s just big and has lots of weapons.

@divegeester said
I don’t think America is a world leader, it’s just big and has lots of weapons.

Yes, but that does make America a leader to those countries that are small and not well defended :-)

@divegeester said
I don’t think America is a world leader, it’s just big and has lots of weapons.

In a nut shell it lacks Class.

@badradger said
In a nut shell it lacks Class.

At this point in time there are those who lack class, I wouldn't say that about everyone in the U.S.. They will be decades trying to repair damage done if not longer as someone pointed out. As their neighbor to the North, I am saddened yet about what happened on Jan 6, 2021. 🙁

-VR

@shavixmir
Well we sent a dozen folks to the moon a half century ago, even if it was planned as a publicity stunt to outdo the Soviets, it was still an outstanding achievement especially considering the rather unsophisticated tech, especially in computers ATT.
As a former Apollo technician I can tell you there was a LOT of sophistication despite the lack of real computers.
You have to admit those trips held the imagination of the whole planet, maybe even the Soviets.

Besides that, we invented PEANUT BUTTER🙂

@sonhouse said
@shavixmir
Well we sent a dozen folks to the moon a half century ago, even if it was planned as a publicity stunt to outdo the Soviets, it was still an outstanding achievement especially considering the rather unsophisticated tech, especially in computers ATT.
As a former Apollo technician I can tell you there was a LOT of sophistication despite the lack of real computers. ...[text shortened]... magination of the whole planet, maybe even the Soviets.

Besides that, we invented PEANUT BUTTER🙂

Before the Second World War, the USA was among the leaders in science and technology,
but not THE leader. It was behind Germany or the UK in many important fields.

So what happened?
1) Many scientists and engineers became refugees and brought their talents to the USA.
2) The UK gave all its most advanced technology to the USA to repay Lend-Lease.
3) The USA captured about all the most advanced German technology and
imported many top German scientists and engineers.

The USA remains a leader in science and technology, but that's largely dependent
upon contributions by immigrants or people who grew up in immigrant families.
Increasing American racism and xenophobia (particularly against Asians) may lead
to the USA losing that edge.

I don't know if China will equal or overtake the USA in general science and technology
as early as, say, 2050, but many Americans seem to act as if it does not happen by
2050, then it never will. The exact time year not matter that much.
By the year 2100, barring some unforeseen catastrophe, I would expect China to
as advanced as any other country in general science and technology.

@earl-of-trumps said
Yes, but that does make America a leader to those countries that are small and not well defended :-)

Like Iran?

@sonhouse said
The whole world is watching us and we are no longer the shining example of democracy to the world.

Don't fool yourselves. You never were, except in countries that never had democracy to begin with.

@Duchess64
We actually knew all that.

@sonhouse said
@Duchess64
We actually knew all that.

Who's 'we'?

I believe that there are many ignorant racist jingoistic Americans who are certain that
the USA always has led (and always will lead) the world in science and technology
and that all US achievements are due to US-born white Americans.

To this day, it's evidently a common American racist belief that all Chinese scientists
and engineers are (and always have been) incapable of any original or creative work.
I expect that's what Donald Trump and most Americans close to him believe.

@Duchess64
Don't include me in that cabal of idiots.

@earl-of-trumps said
Yes, but that does make America a leader to those countries that are small and not well defended :-)

No, in that scenario it makes America a bully.