I have become more optimistic about the future.

When taken in the context of the world these are the positive signs I see:

1. India and China, which together comprise fully 1/3 of humanity, have at long last emerged as economic,if not military powers in Asia. It is well to recall that only 50 years ago these two ancient lands were basket cases needing massive food assitance to stave off starvation and famine.That is a very good thing, as Martha would say.

2. Throughout Latin America there is a wave of genuine democracy spreading, led by Venezuela,Brazil, Argentina, Chile.This is the real thing instead of the phony version dictated from Washington. When Lopez-Obrador of Mexico is elected President, as he will, in spite of the impediments placed in his path, the democratic wave will reach its logical peak.

3.The revolution of rising expectations unleashed by charismatic populists like Lula, Chavez, Kirschner,Lopez-Obrador will make it impossible for any dictator to survive for long with or without the assistance of the U.S. as used to happen in the old days.The days when the U.S. can topple elected governments in Latin America at will just by a phone call like Kissinger did with Allende are over.

4. The economic power being accumulated by China, India, Brazil, Russia will be translated as a counter force to the US and force us to seek negotiations instead of violence as a first resort.

5.The educational revolution in countries like India and China is going to encircle the earth empowering more and more people. Along with the easy availability of computing power, the access that the internet provides, the wide availability of capital will empower people with ideas and break the monopoly of corporations within a coupld of generations.

I think the future for our children and grandchildren looks good.

Sorry, I could not resist. Gotta run too.

a lot of my friends and relatives in Michigan that they are caught in a vise grip not of their making.

Somebody else's children and grandchildren, maybe.

But NONE of that good is happening here.

Malaysia and other Asian and African countries we stand to benefit in the long run.

Do you have the smallest idea how long that run is going to be? Or how much we will suffer?

Think about after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Not with these bastards in charge. We will fall apart if this shit continues much longer.

to continue usurping our wealth and our national (human/creative) energy. They are criminals and they should be exposed and prosecuted.

The thing is, nobody is stopping them.

.. is imminent if

.. the runaway corruptive power of the GOP isn't stopped soon.

And I mean soon.

Sue

I don't understand why we haven't risen up and thrown the bums out. American complacency will be our downfall.

www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

But you forgot a couple, and it may affect your conclusion:

China uses energy at 7 times the rate we do per unit GDP. (Joules/$GDP if you will). Their economy is growing at as much as 12% per year (although the Chinese government would like to see it around 8%). This means their energy consumption grows geometrically relative to their economic growth. India is similar, but not as bad (about 5 times U.S. in J/$).

The U.S. uses about 25% of the worlds hydrocarbon energy and consumes about 4 times the amount Europeans do in J/$.

I guess this is to say, China's ascendence along with Indian economic development serves to produce rivals for the U.S. When this pair couples with Russia, who will become a net importer of oil in the next five years, there will be competition to secure the Earth's energy resources, the future doesn't look so good.

I don't really like being a pessimist, but when I look at the geopolitical situation, and historical precedent, I think my grandchildren may curse us for our arrogance and avarice.