NBC's "Today" show invited on "Newsweek International" editor Fareed Zakaria to promote his book "The Post-American World," on Monday's show and during his segment the author depicted the United States as a nation in decline as he declared the "era" of "'American exceptionalism' is over."
As examples of America's declining standing in the world the "Newsweek" editor cited such facts as China now having the "Largest ferris wheel in the world," Minneapolis' "Mall of America" no longer being the largest in the world and Macau having surpassed Las Vegas in the size of their casinos.
The following is the full interview as conducted by co-host Meredith Vieira, as it occurred on the May 5, "Today" show:
MEREDITH VIEIRA: The baseball legend Satchel Paige famously said, "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you." So should the United States be looking over its shoulder? A new book called, "The Post-American World" argues that the rest of the globe is catching up to us. "Newsweek International" editor Fareed Zakaria is the book's author. Fareed, good morning to you.
FAREED ZAKARIA: Good to see you, Meredith.
VIEIRA: Nice to see you too. You say the book really isn't so much about the decline of the U.S., as it is about the "rise of the rest." What do you mean by that, "The rise of the rest?"
ZAKARIA: Well, it occurred to me really when I was in a taxi in Singapore. I saw a ferris wheel and I said to the cab driver, "Oh, this is so nice, you've got a ferris wheel," and he looked at me and said, "Sir, it's the largest ferris wheel in the world." Then I was at a mall in China and I'm looking at it and thinking, this is very large. And he says, "It is the largest mall in the world." And I said to him, "No, no, no, the Mall of the Americas in Minneapolis is the largest." He said "Sir, that doesn't make the top 10 anymore." So it occurred to me that while we were sleeping, the rest of the world had been gaining, and it's happening everywhere. It's not just China and India. It's happening in Brazil. It's happening in Costa Rica. What I describe in, in the book is the rise of the rest, that is to say, all of these countries, 140, uh, 125 countries, growing at four percent, five percent a year, and gaining on us in all kinds of ways. And it, and how important it is for us to understand this new world.
VIEIRA: Why, why haven't we paid attention, do you think?
ZAKARIA: Well, you tell me, Meredith. I mean, look at the presidential campaign. You know, we've been talking about whether Hillary Clinton landed in a corkscrew 16 years ago on a Bosnian airfield, whether Barack Obama had relations with William Ayers, who when he was in, you know, grade school may have exploded some bombs, whether McCain's used his wife's plane a couple of times. Where are we discussing the big issues? It seems to me this is the, the central issue we have to face as a nation.
VIEIRA: But what does it mean to us as a nation, this "rise of the rest?" Is it necessarily a bad thing for us, a good thing for us?
ZAKARIA: I call it, "The Post-American world," because it's not a world that's going to be dominated by the United States, but it's a world in which lots of good stuff is happening, right? The rest of the world is rising. Billions of people are coming out of poverty. They're consuming, they are investing, they're inventing, they're dreaming. So if we understand it, it could be a great world. It could be a win-win for all of us, but we have to understand it and we have to get to work.
VIEIRA: Do you get, get any sense from the candidates that they understand it. That they, that they see this? As a real issue?
ZAKARIA: I don't, honestly. I mean I think that some of them do talk about it. Obama probably most explicitly. But on the campaign trail, all you hear about is trivia. I mean so far, there have been no discussion of these issues. And what I worry about is, you know, the rest of the world is not going to stop. They're, they're moving ahead. They're gaining ground. London is now probably more important than New York as the world's leading financial center. You know, these things are happening. I was in Las Vegas the other day and I'm, was talking to some people and said, "Well, at least we have, we have casinos." He said, "No, the casinos in Macau are now three times as big as the casinos in Las Vegas."
VIEIRA: And if you look at the polls, Americans feel, a vast majority feel that we're headed in the wrong direction. They sense crisis all around. Is that a misconception?
ZAKARIA: It's stunning. You're absolutely right. The numbers are frightening. I mean, we have more gloom these days than we've had in 40 years. I think it's not a misconception. People are sensing something is going on around the world. And for the first time, they feel as though the changes in the world are not being directed from here but in foreign lands by foreign people. I think they're right, but what we need to understand is we can still be at the center of this new world.
VIEIRA: How?
ZAKARIA: We have to adjust. First of all, it's a much more competitive world. We have to be benchmarking. We have to be asking ourselves, what's going on? Give you simple example. Meredith there are three countries in the world that have not adopted the metric system: Myanmar, Liberia, and the United States. So we look around the world and "We say, that's okay. Those standards are for you. We're special, we're different." And what I'm saying is that era of kind of "American exceptionalism" is over.
VIEIRA: A real wake-up call. Fareed Zakaria, thank you very much.
ZAKARIA: Thank you Meredith.
VIEIRA: The book is called "The Post-American World."
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Then, Jerry (Small is
May 5, 2008 - 13:37 ET by Chris NormanThen, Jerry ("small is beautiful"- "the era of dimished expectations") Brown must be so proud and happy...
If I understand this properly, all the USA needs
May 5, 2008 - 13:42 ET by YahooWatcherto do is double the size of Vegas, build a big-ass ferris wheel, construct the mother of all malls, and start selling gas in liters and we'll be back on top?
Well if they actually get anywhere with DestiNY USA...
May 5, 2008 - 13:50 ET by AJSHOPEWell if they actually get anywhere with DestiNY USA in Syracuse, then that will by far be the largest mall in the world and I honestly don't see how anyone could top it. Seeing the designs and the plans for that place, it's going to be ridiculous. The only problem is that they've been talking about it since I was in college at SU (2001-2003) and they are just now getting to the first phase which is just adding another 1.9 million square feet onto the Carousel Center.
I guess size does matter
May 5, 2008 - 14:14 ET by Free ThinkerI guess size does matter after all. This guy is a loon and it doesn't surprise me Newsweek ran with this socialist's wet dream.
Yepper,
May 5, 2008 - 17:03 ET by DEVILDOCMOMthat's all we have to do...
So, if this guy is so hot on third world countries and was born in India, why does he stay here? Certainly, he would want to be where the best of the world is, ie China or Macau. BTW, I was recently in Brazil...and I am thrilled to be back in the USA. I do not care what this guy says (yes, I hear the yale and harvard in his thoughts) America is the best.
I don't think Fareed is
May 5, 2008 - 18:07 ET by balboaI don't think Fareed is saying that we're not #1 as much as he's saying we're not far and away #1.
We're #1! We're #1!
Well, but
May 5, 2008 - 18:37 ET by DEVILDOCMOMto use a ferris wheel as your gauge for defining a country seems, well, stupid to me...
That's a misconception, too.
May 5, 2008 - 18:40 ET by balboaThat's a misconception, too. He says "factoids" such as the ferris wheel or tallest building are a reflection of a shift, not its sole indicator.
Oh, come on, Balboa. If one
May 5, 2008 - 19:16 ET by Chris NormanOh, come on, Balboa. If one of us used the equivalent "evidence" for one of our propositions, you'd be all over making fun of it.
Probably, but then you'd
May 5, 2008 - 19:25 ET by balboaProbably, but then you'd point out how I was wrong. Fareed even says such things as ferris wheels and tall buildings are silly and arbitrary.
If they're "silly"
May 5, 2008 - 19:40 ET by Chris NormanIf they're "silly" examples, then why did he point to them? It sounds like he was building his argument on them, then you say he pulled the foundation out?
Like I said in my later comment, a lot of these big, tall, flashy projects are heavily subsidized or financed by national governments in a Freudian attempt to make their own people feel better about their oppressive countries. They frequently make almost no economic sense - which is probably why they're no longer built here much.
So why did we build them?
May 5, 2008 - 19:48 ET by balboaSo why did we build them? They were a reflection of our wealth, power, know-how, and progress.
I think Fareed uses the ferris wheel, etc., to show examples people first notice, examples that by and of themselves are not representative of what's going on, but as a result of other developments serve as a reflection of what is actually occurring.
Any country can muster
May 5, 2008 - 20:14 ET by Chris NormanAny country can muster enough money to build something really big. If you'll notice, on many of these projects, the architects, engineers, and builders are all imported - frequently from the US. Why would private enterprise here want to build these mega projects if they're going to be white elephants? For example, the reason that the Mall of America hasn't been surpassed here is that enclosed shopping malls have grown passe. Retail has shifted away from the model it had in the eighties, when you had hundreds of little stores specializing in one item and people were "shopping for entertainment"- there's no need for new mega malls here anymore. Once again, the US is on the cutting edge...
Good point about malls.
May 5, 2008 - 20:34 ET by balboaGood point about malls. There has been a shift away from that shopping experience. There don't seem to be a lot of ostentatious projects sweeping the country. Things seem more focused on personal wealth and status.
Or maybe "the market" for
May 5, 2008 - 20:48 ET by Free StinkerOr maybe "the market" for new malls is saturated.
Much like McDonalds . . .
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
No, the retail model has
May 5, 2008 - 21:32 ET by Chris NormanNo, the retail model has undergone a sea change in the last ten years. The days of the big enclosed malls with hundreds of little stores is over. That's why you're not seeing the existing malls filled anymore. All the corporate stores like Disney, Warner Bros., and Discovery that took up gobs of space are disappearing or gone and it's getting harder to replace them. The big theme restaurants like the Rainforest Cafe, Hard Rock, and the Cheesecake Factory aren't growing like they used to either. The trends have changed and it's going to be different going forward. You'll see more open air centers with free standing stores dominate new construction for awhile - and not to forget on-line shopping.
Could be some of that
May 5, 2008 - 21:40 ET by Free StinkerCould be some of that too.
One thing is certain, failing to create "the World's Largest Mall" does not indicate the US is in decline.
Electing Hillary Clinton would indicate it, but that's another issue for another time.
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
Trust me on this. I don't
May 5, 2008 - 22:45 ET by Chris NormanTrust me on this. I don't know a lot about much, but I do know retailing and shopping malls.
Trust me on this. I don't
May 5, 2008 - 22:45 ET by Chris NormanTrust me on this. I don't know a lot about much, but I do know retailing and shopping malls.
Chris: Your remark about
May 6, 2008 - 02:54 ET by stratmanChris:
Your remark about a change in retail shopping from enclosed malls to open air centers with standalone stores describes the current state of construction in Cleveland and surrounding areas.
Personally, even with heated sidewalks, I don't enjoy these open air centers in winter, walking outside from store to store while the wind howls and snow/rain cuts.
The retail paradigm has changed... again. It is the nature of humans to tinker with things, sometimes for want of something new and different alone, sometimes to provide a better consumer experience (like stadium seating with cup holder in movie theaters!)
RRAM Tough!
Once upon a time, they used
May 5, 2008 - 20:52 ET by Chris NormanOnce upon a time, they used to spend that wealth buying "status" at the malls.
Anytime government gets involved you can end up with big problems - like the Airbus 380 - that double decked behemoth which came on line abut the same time airlines were moving away from depending so much on the hub and spoke system it was designed for. It was, in part, a nationalistic project, to show the world European technical know-how in a big way. However, it wouldn't have been built without massive subsidies - like the Concorde. Now, it's looking more and more, (like the Concorde) like a flying white elephant.
I wonder if - similar to
May 5, 2008 - 21:19 ET by Free StinkerI wonder if - similar to Concorde - the A380 will only have 10 to 12 planes maximum in service . . .
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
Perhaps a little better. It
May 5, 2008 - 21:26 ET by Chris NormanPerhaps a little better. It looks like, at most, it'll be a "prestige flagship plane" for some of the Asian, Middle-Eastern, and a few European airlines. The slow way deliveries are going, that will be a major achievement.
Convoluted
May 5, 2008 - 14:05 ET by geoff.galeIsn't it a bit odd that so many of the latest expressions of raw capitalism are seemingly aimed at killing the golden goose? Here's this fool doing the national book tour, hoping to boost the sale of his book, and coincidentally boost the profits for the publisher and himself, in which he tells us that we're 'past our sell-by date'.
Man, the cynicism involved in that whole logic loop is just mind-boggling! Me, I prefer to think of the glass being half-full, but I admit that's just my own little foible.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
He forgot...
May 5, 2008 - 14:18 ET by SyriusItaly has the Pope.
France has the Champs.
Britian has the Queen.
Gosh, the list is immense.
Hey, we have Bush's resolve in Nation Building! That's something isn't?!?
Come on, sing along...
"We are the Champions of the World!"
I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
-
I thank you all -
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -
Queen
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Is he a US Citizen?
May 5, 2008 - 14:27 ET by PawpawNFareed Zakaria was born in INDIA to a practicing Muslim family. He currently resides in New York City with his wife, Paula Throckmorton Zakaria, son Omar, and daughters Lila and Sofia. Fareed has weighed in on his Muslim background on only one occasion, telling the Village Voice, "I occasionally find myself reluctant to be pulled into a world that's not mine, in the sense that I'm not a religious guy." So is he a citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
the way I see it capitalism
May 5, 2008 - 14:28 ET by seaniepthe way I see it capitalism spreading, as well as disposable income (casinos and ferris wheels?) becoming more prevalent in the world . . . and it is somehow a bad thing?
Now that we're such a
May 5, 2008 - 14:37 ET by ckc1227Now that we're such a second rate power, perhaps we can stop giving away so much money abroad, and maybe everyone will stop trying to come here to get their piece of the American Dream. Maybe they can start turning to China, Macau, Brazil, Singapore, etc instead.
So the size of our Farris wheel makes America Great?
May 5, 2008 - 14:43 ET by Mr_PriestYou know I always wondered why the world wanted to migrate to America? It must be the size of our Casino's, or Farris Wheels and our Malls! Those things are what makes us such a strong nation. Obviously, it had nothing to do with the will or mindset of the American people, or our Freedoms, our respect for individual rights, our equal rights for everyone. Nope, it must be something physical that sets us apart! How could I have been so stupid as to not see it before. Why if Bin-laden had only blown up our Farris Wheel's we would have caved in!
Mr_Priest
May 5, 2008 - 20:15 ET by iveseenitallSo right Mr_ Priest. I posted this in the Open Thread earlier today. Guys like Zarkaria do not understand the real nature and wonder of America. In his article in Newsweek he meaures its greatness by the declining wealth of people like Donald Trump and America's having shorter skyscrapers than other nations. Because he wasn't born and raised here, he doesn't have a clue about the principles upon which our nation was founded. Yet he gets to peddle his tripe in a large American magazine. Shame on the "liberals" who love the crap he shovels. Shame on them all.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
These lists are arbitrary
May 5, 2008 - 15:29 ET by balboaThese lists are arbitrary and a bit silly, but consider that only
ten years ago, the United States would have serenely topped almost
every one of these categories.
These factoids reflect a seismic shift in power and attitudes.
The ultimate hypocrisy of the "liberals"
May 5, 2008 - 15:33 ET by iveseenitallThey come to America, share in its wealth, embrace capitalism, and then find everything "wrong" with our nation. They pounce on any opportunity they get to demean us. Zakaria's article appears in Newsweek with a big glove, boldly shouting "America #2". You are #2 Mr. Zarakia, and you stink to high heaven. Fumigate the NBC studio!
NEVER, NEVER trust a "liberal"
NEVER
May 5, 2008 - 14:47 ET by iveseenitallNEVER, NEVER trust a "liberal"
Saw this on t.v yesterday
May 5, 2008 - 14:49 ET by Mica the MagnificentWe will never be great again until we toss babies from 50 foot walls and catch them in a bedsheet like they do in India.
They say it makes them healthy.
Now that's greatness!
I had a wonderful evening. This wasn't it. - - Groucho Marx
Left wing rag
May 5, 2008 - 14:47 ET by dboI'm surprised that an editor at Newsweek has acknowledged an "era of American exceptionalism" to begin with.
NEVER
May 5, 2008 - 15:05 ET by iveseenitallNEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Announce to denounce
May 6, 2008 - 11:37 ET by exLibThings like this, American Exceptionalism, are only ackowledged by the Media when they feel they are "gone".
Recently Time did a right up on how during the 2006 election the 'debate' was all about the Iraq War and NOT the economy. Time said Bush wanted the debate on the economy because of the 6 years of economic growth. Now the economy is in "decline" so Bush wants the debate on Iraq, since it is trending positive there.
So there you have one of the best examples of the media, which has talked-down the economy since Bush got elected, NOW says we are finally seeing a downturn after 6 years of growth. Remember in 04, we were in the great depression back then according the dems and the media.
I'm sorry folks, but Fareed Zakaria is absolutely correct.
May 5, 2008 - 15:06 ET by R D HelmBut not for the reasons he thinks. If this country declines much more, the "good things" Zakaria is happening in the rest of the world will be decidedly short-lived.
The financial strength of this country has been pretty much eviscerated by the left over the last fifty years or so.
Thirty-five years ago, this country had the resources to keep Soviet Russia afloat by sending them massive cash infusions.
Today, we have bee reduced to borrowing money from the Chicoms just to fund income tax rebates.
Unless this country acts immediately to reduce the size and scope of
the federal government, sharply reduce the confiscatory 35% corporate
tax rate, which is killing our economy while strengtheneing others,
such as China, as well as sharply increasing the exploitatoin of our
own energy resources, we are headed for second-rate status. And that
right soon.
What is worse, none of the three presidential contenders, and this includes John McCain, appear to grasp the immediate need for reversing our current predicament.
Something is terribly amiss here.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
Agreed, and not just the corporate tax
May 5, 2008 - 15:10 ET by sarcasmoThe individual income tax needs to go, along with more spending than most people can imagine. This link makes it clear.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
sarc,
May 5, 2008 - 15:59 ET by R D HelmIt seems too many today are content to whistle past the graveyard, so to speak. This country is no-longer the financial powerhouse it one was. Nowhere near.
We have maneuvered ourselves into a really bad position over the years due mainly to the rise of the nanny state, and this sad situation came about due to the complacency of most Americans, as well as the actions of both major political parties.
The republicans really blew it when it came to out-of-control spending and increasing the size and scope of the federal government, particularly over the last seven years. The size of the federal government essentially doubled during that time. Yet so many are still willing to vote to reward the republicans for their treachery by supporting McCain, somehow believeing that he will do better than the dems. He is a dem, not that there is all that much difference between the parties these days.
At some point, government grows to the point that it is no-longer controllable, and essentially takes on a life of its own. I believe we are very close to that point. I know many people who feel we are already there.
I am really not trying to be a prophet of doom here, as I believe we still have time to correct this, but the window of opportunity is beginning to close. At some point, it is going to slam shut. The bills for this spending lunacy are going to be coming due soon, and we are going to be in seriously deep doo-doo when that happens, as we will not have the financial wherewithal to counter it.
The really sad part is, the mechanism to easily fix this mess once and for all has already been so clearly outlined, yet is so thoroughly missed by so many otherwise intelligent people.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
"Our" problem
May 5, 2008 - 15:42 ET by iveseenitallThat's "our" problem and ,yes, we must deal with it. But if you read the article, you understand that Zarkaria is a man who will take any opportunity to bash this nation. The "liberals" love it. Please don't fall for the fox in sheep's clothing. Neither he , nor Newsweek, has our interest at heart. It's destructive, not constructive, criticism he spews.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
No Zakaria...
May 5, 2008 - 15:09 ET by Parker1227...left-wing rags like Newsweek just like taking cheap shots at America because it plays well to their university brainwashed readership who have been spoon fed too much anti-American, anti-Western BS by the likes of Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky.
We really, really need to take back the universities.
size of Ferris Wheels?
May 5, 2008 - 15:21 ET by HypocriteHaterAs far as I'm concerned, trying to build the biggest and tallest whatever is soooooo 20th century. Other countries are catching up because that's not how we show our greatness anymore.
Our greatness in the 21st century is measured by our standing up to terrorism and fighting against it. Look at all the countries who joined us in the fight against terrorism as well as the countries who have replaced their socialist leaders with America-friendly leaders. I think THAT speaks volumes more about how great we are than whether or not we have the biggest carnival ride anymore.
Agreed, hypocriteHater
May 5, 2008 - 15:45 ET by Mica the MagnificentIt's like bragging which country held the largest World's Fair.
Yeah. I remember when the
May 5, 2008 - 16:30 ET by Chris NormanYeah. I remember when the Worlds Fair was almost as big and prestigious as the Olympics. Then, along came Spokane's and Knoxville's... :)
BTW, isn't "Mica" and "the Magificent" redundant?
Thanks, Chris, but . . . .
May 5, 2008 - 18:59 ET by Mica the Magnificentonly if you say it twice!
BTW: Mica is an acronym for my real name.
If you watch any late night
May 5, 2008 - 17:35 ET by Dan The Man 2If you watch any late night TV, I think Americans don't care about the size of the ferris wheel as much as the size of their hmmm unmentionables.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
What Fareed fails to mention is that the USA
May 5, 2008 - 15:33 ET by YahooWatcherstill has the bomb and best military on the planet to deliver it.
YW yea, fastest aircraft, 100% men on moon, returned alive ..
May 5, 2008 - 15:42 ET by upcountrywaterand stuff like Big Dog
The POPE says, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
IranianUranium<sleep>New/Infrastructure/repair?/ROFLMAO
"At the military and
May 5, 2008 - 15:57 ET by balboa"At the military and political level, we still live in a unipolar world."
bal, heres your idea of big dog
May 5, 2008 - 16:08 ET by upcountrywaterfunny copy of the real thing, or more life like real than the origional.
The POPE says, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
IranianUranium<sleep>New/Infrastructure/repair?/ROFLMAO
Many of the biggest,
May 5, 2008 - 15:53 ET by Chris NormanMany of the biggest, tallest, and flashiest of these things are financed or heavily subsidized by governments in a shallow attempt to boost the ego of their respective countries. A lot of this stuff makes no economic sense and are just status symbols to say "Look at us, we oppress our citizens, no one wants to live in this God-forsaken place, but we have the world's largest merry-go-round, by golly..."
Trade Deficits, Yes, Ferris Wheels, No
May 5, 2008 - 15:48 ET by RexRuthlessWhen we lose the Nobel Prize virtual monopoly, we will have lost that position of being Numero Uno.
But, when "we" complain about our situation, our complaints about trade deficits, budget deficits, inflated housing costs, loss of purchasing power are real.
Yeah, the dufus who wrote the article is so obsessed with America's decline that he knows about ridiculous stuff such as who has the world's largest ferris wheel.
Japan was supposed to pass us and instead fell victim to its own narrow thinking.
But, as I said and I think we all agree here, we are blowing our advantages by refusing to drill for oil, use nuclear power, import illegal labor while exporting many of the best jobs.
That cannot go on long without major merde hitting our American fan.
What do you mean "exporting
May 5, 2008 - 15:59 ET by mandrakeWhat do you mean "exporting many of the best jobs"?
If anything can be manufactured at less cost overseas then it should be. I don't care if it's computer chips, clothes, cars..whatever.
Who cares about jobs overseas? You just need to make right international investments and you'll be fine.
Nice Canadian logic there, ah mandrake.
May 5, 2008 - 16:24 ET by R D HelmIf anything can be manufactured at less cost overseas then it should
be. I don't care if it's computer chips, clothes, cars..whatever.
It isn't just manufacturing jobs the U.S. is losing overseas. Many high-tech, as well as other jobs, are leaving, too. I attribute this mostly to this country's hideous 35% corporate tax rate, which not only is helping to drive jobs from this country, but investment capital as well.
There is, depending on whose numbers you believe, between 12 & 14 Trillion dollars that is being held off-shore because if it comes back here, it is going to get nailed by this country's confiscatory tax system. Instead of this money being invested in the U.S., it is helping to create jobs in other countries, such as China.
You just need to make right international investments and you'll be fine.
Yeah, right.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
You can't put the blame
May 5, 2008 - 16:33 ET by mandrakeYou can't put the blame entirely on goverment taxes. You mentioned 'high tech' jobs. How much does an American computer programmer get per hour..cause a programmer in India will do the same job for $2.00/hr. It's just simple arithmetic...they win.
that's a half truth
May 5, 2008 - 21:05 ET by wizardjrOne company after another has repatriated programmer jobs after dealing with long distance romances like this. It's one thing to contract with a company (anywhere) to deliver a defined package. It's wholly another to integrate them into your operations. Doesn't work well. How do I know? Been there done that. As far as those high wage rates, I can get a job any time at $50/hr as a contract employee. I have recruiters trying to steal me (and others) all the time. We're here. We're available. We're American. We work and deliver the goods.
jihad
May 5, 2008 - 16:05 ET by BurgherZAKARIA is just another Muslim tool on a literary jihad with the MSM helping him along. Part of the psycological warfare don't you know
Zakaria?
May 5, 2008 - 16:54 ET by okiehawk44So Fareed says: "What I describe in, in the book is the rise of the rest, that is to say, all of these countries, 140, uh, 125 countries, growing at four percent, five percent a year, and gaining on us in all kinds of ways." Fareed the GDP of America is huge compared to these other countries. Five percent of 100 is less Fareed than say 2% of a zillion. I know that's not true at Newsweek, but it is true everywhere else in life. Did you actually go to college Fareed or did you just get one of those "Honorary" degrees so popular with socialist-democrats?
Sad but {apparently} true.
May 5, 2008 - 17:50 ET by SickofLibsSad but {apparently} true. The world must now turn it's eyes towards Iran and Somalia for exceptionalism.
majority of white Am. job applicants are drunks, thieves, liars,
May 5, 2008 - 18:18 ET by needleHave a look at the following item from Newsweek’s web site:
http://www.newsweek....
Fareed Zakaria's third I-despise-America paragraph (that begins “Look around.”) is a total unhinged assessment of America, or in fact anything.
Read as much as you can stand, but don’t miss the comment by one of Newsweek’s writers:
The second paragraph begins:
“Anyone in this country who is trying to run a business or farm knows that the majority of white American job applicants are drunks, thieves, liars, meth junkies, morons, or, all of the above.”
And from there it just gets worse.
I‘ll bet my house this guy is an Obama supporter.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
How do you know that a
May 5, 2008 - 18:28 ET by balboaHow do you know that a Newsweek writer posted that?
Bal
May 5, 2008 - 18:39 ET by mandrakeI'm wondering that too. I tried reading through all the comments but there were just too many.. a userid name would be helpful.
The quote he had was posted
May 5, 2008 - 18:56 ET by balboaThe quote he had was posted by "CZMD." Now, maybe that's code for a Newsweek writer?
Of course it is Bal
May 5, 2008 - 19:05 ET by FastEdIt must stand for "Can't Zee My D%$@" - so he's French AND a Newsweek writer!!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Bal
May 5, 2008 - 19:13 ET by mandrakeOk, I found it/him. But ya know he reminds me of a fellow here long ago known as 'realAmericanPVC'. I doubt few remember him, but every site has its nutjobs :)
mandrake
May 5, 2008 - 19:18 ET by balboaPerhaps needle thought that if he wrote his post indignantly enough, no one would bother to check?
Belated correction
May 7, 2008 - 10:41 ET by needleThere are several posts above questioning why I said that “CZMD” was a writer for Newsweek.
The answer is that “CZMD” wrote: “America is rotting from the inside out. You can deny it all you want, you can stone the messengers like Mr. Zakaria and myself…” The way I read this the first time it seemed to me that CZMD was allying himself closely with Mr. Zakaria, as if he were a supporting writer for Mr. Zakaria or professionally associated with him. When I came back to my computer a couple days later and did a screen refresh I was surprised to see such a fuss about this. So I re-read CZMD’s post and realized that my original conclusion was not actually substantiated, and that apparently CZMD merely considers himself to be very simpatico with Mr. Zakaria, whom he may not even know personally.
I therefore apologize to Mr. Zakaria and CZMD for reading too much into what CZMD wrote. I also apologize to Balboa et al. for not making this correction earlier.
I do not apology however for decrying the outrageous attitudes of Mr. Zakaria and CZMD. The degree to which they and so many other elites despise the rest of American is shocking and a great shame, not on America and Americans, but on themselves. These people live in an echo chamber, facilitated by the media and academia, which doubtlessly contributes to how it is that they so assuredly know that they are right.
At this point it looks very much as if the elitists’ champion Obama will be the Democratic nominee. I doubt that Obama’s carefully studied mild manners will be of much effect in controlling the plans, projects, and passions of the kinds of people with whom he associates and who would almost certainly make up an important part of his putative administration.
I suspect that if elitist with BDS and attitudes aligned, in a general sense, with Mr. Zakaria and CZMD get control of the United States government, it will be a disaster for all. Even if they get control of “only” the Democratic Party – which seems likely – it will be bad for the Democratic Party. I say this because the extremely sour attitudes reflected in Mr. Zakaria’s and CZMD’s writings are simply not conducive for good leadership.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Haven't read the piece yet
May 5, 2008 - 19:13 ET by FastEdbut I would imagin that he lists ALL the major developments the rest of the world has created. In India, they have a beauracracy that the demolibs would enjoy, and the way to get things done is to use bribes. China, lots of people, noodles and gunpowder.
Where have all the invetions come from?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
casinos
May 5, 2008 - 20:19 ET by Free StinkerNo, the casinos in Macau are now three times as big as the casinos in Las Vegas
I'm pretty sure I've heard the same claims about some Atlantic City Casinos and Foxwoods. Now, what country are they located in? Hmmm.....
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
If the fact that America...
May 5, 2008 - 22:26 ET by PrairieSkyno longer has the largest ferris wheel, shopping mall or casino, is the yardstick by which this yutz defines as proof that 'America is in decline', then I'm not too worried. And Zakaria's contention that London has surpassed New York as the world's financial center??? Since when? What does he base that opinion on?
And in regards to the fact that the US hasn't adopted the metric system? I remember when I was in elementary school (in the '60's), we were told ad nauseum that our generation would be the first American generation to grow up with the metric system, and that by the time we were adults, America would have completely converted to it. We were also told that if America didn't switch to metric like "...the rest of the world...", it would be at our peril. What a load of baloney!!! Look at what this country has achieved since then...the space program, the overwhelming success and propagation of the computer (home and otherwise), our victory in the cold war, and on and on.
Yes, Mr. Zakaria, America's decline will be measured by the fact that we no longer have the biggest ferris wheel in the world!! I don't know about you, but I'm crushed!...As I said...what a yutz!
London has surpassed New York as the world's financial center?
May 5, 2008 - 22:32 ET by Free StinkerLondon has surpassed New York as the world's financial center?
Even if that is the case (which I don't believe to be correct) it certainly has more to do with London's geographic advantage that translates into London -- Tokyo markets slightly overlapping & London -- New York markets slightly overlapping. New York is 5 hours behind London, and Tokyo is 6/7 hours ahead.
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
Free...
May 5, 2008 - 22:35 ET by PrairieSkyExactly...and I'm with you...I also don't believe his contention that London has surpassed New York in that regard. Zakaria's full of it.
London calling... I
May 5, 2008 - 22:36 ET by Clear thinkerLondon calling...
I actually like this idea of London becoming the new finacial center over NYC. Maybe the terrorists will stop targeting us for awhile.
And yes, I know that's a mean thing to say.
"Abstain from McCain"
Clear...
May 5, 2008 - 22:39 ET by PrairieSkyYou're right...Mean thing to say, although I know you don't mean it. But interesting point, none the less.
Prairie Sky... Actually,
May 5, 2008 - 22:45 ET by Clear thinkerPrairie Sky...
Actually, I did mean it.
I don't want anyone getting killed by terrorists, but if it keeps them out of our country for awhile it's good for us and very bad for the Brits.
"Abstain from McCain"
Well, Clear, sorry to hear that...I get...
May 5, 2008 - 23:12 ET by PrairieSkyyour point, but call me a 'Pollyanna'...I prefer to hope that no one gets hit by terrorists...us or the Brits.
There's a little problem...
May 7, 2008 - 13:00 ET by SyriusCT,
You wrote...
I don't want anyone getting killed by terrorists, but...
The "but" used in your sentence, if I'm correct, cancels your statement before it. The Brits have been targeted and victimized by terrorists. They are our Allies in the GWOT not our enemies. Kindly please, with all due respect, retract your statement.
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott