Ezra Klein Explains the Fallacy of American Decline

[Valin]

Via Meadia:

Walter Russell Mead

5/18/12

 

In his latest Bloomberg column, “American Decline a Mirage in a World That’s Rising,” Ezra Klein points out something we’ve been stressing at Via Meadia for some time:

 

If American preeminence relies on the continued immiseration of Brazil, China and India, then, even in the most selfish terms, I’m not sure that it’s worth having. . . .

 

If hundreds of millions of Chinese and Indians continue to be stuck on unproductive farms or in unskilled jobs rather than being freed to develop their human capital, the rest of the world will be denied access to the endless innovations they otherwise might have developed. . . .

(Snip)

(Snip)

 

Gosh maybe the zero sum game really is false!

[Evad]

The name Ezra Klein says all that needs to be said.

Pure, undiluted bull shiiite.

[Valin]

<p>

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The name Ezra Klein says all that needs to be said.<br />

Pure, undiluted bull shiiite.<br />

<br />

<br />

Right. You wouldn't want to read anything by him.

 

So, yes, the U.S. has its problems. But I wouldn’t trade our problems for anyone else’s. Europe, China and Japan face immense demographic challenges. All three are aging rapidly and, for cultural and political reasons, immigration is unlikely to swell their workforces. Japan, with a median age of 44.6, is one of the oldest countries in the world. In China, the birth rate has fallen from 2.6 births per woman 30 years ago to 1.56 today.

 

Political challenges loom equally large. The euro area looks irredeemably flawed -- perhaps even unsalvageable. It’s unclear how China’s political system will evolve as the country grows richer, or how it will survive if the rapid growth of the past few decades slows dramatically. As for India, its political system makes the euro area look like a model of farsighted governance.

 

(Snip)

 

If Europe gets back on track, and if Brazil, China and India manage to sustain their high growth rates, then it’s true that more nations will be vying for influence on the world stage: America’s unquestioned geopolitical dominance could decline. At that point, ensuring that the values the U.S. has imperfectly promoted -- liberal democracy, human rights, open capitalism -- continue to hold sway becomes a matter of statecraft. Diplomacy will have to achieve what being the only superpower on the block once assured. But that’s why we have the State Department, not to mention a military budget larger than the next dozen or so states combined.

 

WOW!!! Pretty far out left wing stuff!