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> The big difference I see with China is that they have a massive booming economy. Unlike the USSR which failed to stay productive, they might be able to pull i
by forapurpose 9y ago
> The big difference I see with China is that they have a massive booming economy. Unlike the USSR which failed to stay productive, they might be able to pull it off.
Yes, this issue is the biggest one in the world right now (besides political stability and commitment to democracy in the US). Military power flows from economic power more than from anything else. In maybe 10 years, for the first time since WWII the US may have the second biggest economy and be falling further behind. The US + Europe would still far exceed China, but of course international cooperation is unfashionable for some reason.
- PricelessValue 9y ago> for the first time since WWII the US may have the second biggest economy and be falling further behind. Since 1890 or so. The US was the largest economy in the world for more than 50 years before ww2 started.
- forapurpose 9y agoGood point. The gap grew dramatically by the end of WWII, when the US produced 50% of global GDP. The devastation of two massive wars in Europe in 35 years ruined the economies there, and Japan was also greatly damaged. In contrast, the U.S. mainland was mostly untouched.