tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179708735520151974.post5121132613895120300..comments2022-11-21T09:53:47.898-05:00Comments on Blogging through global societies: Hobsbawm ch. 1Piotr Koniecznyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176515435484290423noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179708735520151974.post-78911133790906010962009-10-02T00:14:38.911-04:002009-10-02T00:14:38.911-04:00I feel like America is resting on the fact that th...I feel like America is resting on the fact that they are being told that they are the top country in the world. I feel like they are not doing anything to improve on the values originally set by the forefathers of the country. America has become comfortable with what it has become. That is why in America i feel that Americans arent living to their full potential. Its the immagrants that make a bigger impact on America than natural born Americans do. So even though America has the resources most other countries don't, other countries and their natives has much more potential than America. They unfortunately just lack the resources and opportunities.John Easterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11747725026958799701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179708735520151974.post-66440098107035413572009-10-02T00:03:53.105-04:002009-10-02T00:03:53.105-04:00You pose an interesting question. Nicole additiona...You pose an interesting question. Nicole additionally makes a strong point in the necessity for an improvement in the U.S. education system, which has fallen behind some of those worldwide.<br /><br />As far as the status of the U.S. as a world power, I believe the topic is still up for debate. The dollar has clearly wavered and is no longer the unquestioned currency leader. There are challenges presenting themselves from countries like China, who are dedicated to achieving world leader status. In the end, though, I do not believe an independent challenge to U.S. authority is imminent, as the most likely actors are heavily invested stakeholders in the success of the U.S. <br /><br />I am not saying that the U.S. should be satisfied with its current position, as the "American laziness" mentioned above is increasingly palpable. I think too many Americans have turned away from the foundations of hard work that this country was built upon. Many people would rather wait and have someone else take care of their problems. Americans got comfortable in their own skin in my opinion, and maybe the current recession will be the impetus to once again rise to the clear world leader. If not, I think that it is only a matter of time until the U.S. finds itself under a serious threat of being replaced.Jon Luchanskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05396266684186735114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179708735520151974.post-73495657998356190932009-10-01T23:36:57.396-04:002009-10-01T23:36:57.396-04:00Dan, those were the exact thoughts I had as we dis...Dan, those were the exact thoughts I had as we discussed the theme, technology leading to world power, in class. Kind of scary, isn’t it? <br /> I do think that the production of technology in what we now consider2nd and 3rd world countries can pose a threat to the USA. Economically this is threatening, but more importantly, I think it poses a threat to the USA’s dominance in the world. <br /> Recent reports conclude that the USA is lagging behind its competition (Britain, France, China, Russia, Japan) in terms of education, new technology, and medical advancements; which go hand in hand with one another. As we discussed in class, history does go in cycles. Since we know that technology tends to equal power, as the US slips in its ranks its power slowly destabilizes. Maybe the US is just going through a small “dry-spell”, or maybe it has to do with “America’s laziness”? Either way, the US is at a disadvantage right now. Sure enough, if the US does not come out of this dry-spell, other countries will take advantage of the void caused by the US and rise above: potentially taking the US’s place in world dominance (we know this will happen because we’ve seen the cycle before). The US is lagging, but not so much that it cannot regain its zeal and earn back its complete dominance in the world. The US needs to reevaluate its education system and standards, technology will follow, followed by economic prosperity (lets hope), and a firm position as a world power. If the US does not do this. . . Sadly, I think it could be the beginning of the end of the US powerhouse.Nicole.Zennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16228594051119321999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179708735520151974.post-707770078238820222009-10-01T20:49:34.908-04:002009-10-01T20:49:34.908-04:00Although i appreciate this observation, because i ...Although i appreciate this observation, because i certainly would not have thought of it without reading your post, i do not think the USA will soon be replaced as one of the top nations. I think we have our fingers so deep into many issues at this moment in time that replacing us could cause some chaos to those countries who are connected to us in some way or another. However, maybe if there was a threat we would change the way we do things a little to avoid such a travesty. <br /><br />--Dorothy Smith "Bunny"Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17445427409331116790noreply@blogger.com