Can the US become a superpower like the EU?

The US also had a low tax rate in the 1980's, which led to a boom after the semi-stagnant 1960's and 1970's.  In the 1950's, most of the other economies in the world had been destroyed as well, so that has a big impact on it as well.

In America many people don't have health insurance,this is true, but we have decided that that is better than using tax dollars to provide it for those people and thus stifling the economy for everyone.  Those things happen because America is not a welfare state, but because of that we have a very productive economy a smaller tax burden for everyone.  I prefer the one that benefits the economy as a whole, if Europe wants to use their money for universal health care, go for it.

I could very easily say to you "tell that to all the Swedes who must give up 80% of their earnings".

America can easily endure with a segment of the population without health insurance, can Europe easily survive if they do not encourage economic growth?

as I am American, that makes no sense.

Anyway I defend the US, look at the bottom of the last page.

Isn't the concept of un-Americanism or holding the belief something or someone is un-American just about the most unpatriotic thing there is?

History shows that mono-ideology societies, societies where it's populous are unable or unwilling to criticise it, quickly become moribund, stagnate and die. The healthiest countries in the world are the most self critical. Self criticism is also the first step to self improvement.

Tobodai

IIRC (and please, correct me if I am wrong) the domination of the English language in international affais precedes the USA - after all, English is the spoken language of England predominately... and they had an empire when you still were their colony.

Secondly, not only is USA not the strongest economical entity, but also EU IS indeed the #1 economy in the world (the way we measure economies: size)

Japan is not #2, where did you get that from?

More economics for those who simply can't get it (Ghenghis, for instance):

Economic growth does not equal development.

USA favors constant growth (and that's why you have higher growth than the EU average, although countries like Ireland - 4.5% - and Greece - 4.2% - have a much higher growth rate than USA) with ridiculisly high deficits, while Europe's model is based more on the control of macroeconomic factors like deficits (and elimination thereof) inflation (ditto) and in the social stability that provides a safe business environment. Europe has - as a result - higher unemployment, for instance, but unemployed in Germany, Netherlands and the Skandinavian countries are living far better than MacJobers in USA. Isn't that a treat?

Higher GDP does not equal higher standards of life (in all other defining factors USA lags desperately behind ALL European countries, as well as Canada, Australia and a few others and in some aspects - human rights and civil liberties for instance - it's closer to third world countries than the advanced ones)

USAs rapid development in the 50s and the 60s was a result of the increasing spending power of the lesser classes (mid, low-mid and lower). In the 70s, inflation, oil crisis, Vietnam, government instability and a couple other factors led to a relative stagnation. In the 80s, neo-classical models were introduced and indeed they worked... temporary. Nothing like a boom, of course, that came in Clinton's era, the best - economically wise - since the booming 60s. But that was temporary. Fact is all half-decent economists have proven that the neo-classical models cannot work for prolonged periods of time. They can produce a superficial sense of growth and development, but in the long run they fail because they strip the bulk of the society from their buying power - and that's what moves our little capitalistic world, the flow of money.

The bubble burst occured, the policies introduced were even more lessaiz faire (when in reality a new "new deal" was needed) and we see the results. Now the american economy is declining and the main reason is that the lesser classes do not get a half-decent share of the wealth produced (unlike the 50s and 60s), so they are unable to continue to climax their spendings.

Damn, if people could understand simple economics...

Mixcal

Ich habe sauerkraut in meine lederhosen

Ill agree with you here, this is why I feel the US is socially behind, I look at a society with different ideologies over time and I see when it is more open and questioning, it performs better.  The US is too much in fear factor mode right now, and is having a puritanical revival, the fall of the US will come from inside, not from outside

and as for that other fun post, the EU does not and should not be considered one unified economy, even with its silly new laws and meaningless "constitution", it is still several competing states, and none of them can match either the US or Japan.

In that other topic, where I once again tried (unsuccesfuly) to communicate a few simple realities to you, I took the time and effort to provide you with a step-by-step guide so you can find all the date you need for yourself and come to an educated conclusion.

You didn't even reply to this, as it was probably too much work for you, to actually dig into a dozen websites and google for a few hours.

Don't accuse me for not providing data, when I took you by the hand and show you how you can find data that you won't dismiss on the sole premise that they are "from sources like Noam Chomsky and other liberals" . Data that is there for everybody to see, if they know what to look for. The fact that you didn't is your failure, not mine.

OK, you are right - to an extend. I will edit my previous post and I do feel sorry for overeacting (which I did).

I would indeed like some productive dialogue on this, other than dismissive "yeah, leftist ramblings" and similar reactions.

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=208

This link shows that higher paying jobs are actually growing, not declining as people who speak about the current rise in McJobs talk about.