As American culture becomes ubiquitous, Americans become irrelevant

[psychopomp]

Putting it bluntly, nobody in the rest of the world gives a rat's ass what happens in the U.S.

Many of us have imagined, in flights of fantasy, a time when the rest of the world would rescue us from our own failed democracy. To the contrary, in the rising tide of knowlege-sharing we Americans are, to the person, just as irrelevant to non-Americans (or, from another perspective, just as relevant) as the "huddled masses" may be to us, ourselves. From hi-tech to high crime, the world is catching up (and often ahead).

Here is an oddball perspective: we, citizens of the U.S. are only five percent of the total world's population. A full forty percent now live in either India or China.

Although many, if not most, DU'ers are more globally-conscious than average, the general inclination here (DU) as far as international relations is concerned is to see affairs through the lens of our own distorted culture. The millenarian mindset that we often slip into at DU, however, does not translate very well when I look abroad.

At times being the bearers of horrific suffering, other peoples often have a different perspective on the state of things in 2003. Things haven't been well for as long as anybody can remember in most of these places because late capitalism wasn't so great for them in the first place. So, when we bemoan the "end of the world," others are just trying to make sure that they can get out from the bottom. Things are bad, but for most of the world it is a time to make advances.

There are alliances being made that have just as much potential to be as effective as the proverbial "barbarians at the gate." The gate is our economic system that puts controlling powers in the U.S. and her allies at the top of the global economic food chain.

When the rubber hits the road stateside, though, we are on our own fixing it.

[greyl]

1. I don't think your premise is true.

Especially this part: "Putting it bluntly, nobody in the rest of the world gives a rat's ass what happens in the U.S."

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. You're right

a military budget bigger than than the next 20 countries combined means we do care what happens in the US, for our self-preservation. Carbon dioxide emissions also concern us.

[forgethell]

3. Many in the United States

don't care about what happens in other countries, either. So what? What is your point? There are those both in the US and out that do care about the other. Who cares what the ignorant think?

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Living abroad right now, and think I understand...

some of what you mean. We didn't share, as a nation, the past of the rest of the world, from ancient history, to the effects of what has been called the "late Victorian holocaust," to modern wars on our own soil. And you're right, there's a new world comin' --

[Old and In the Way]

5. I've been going to China since 1990

It is absolutely mindboggling at the transformation that the country has undergone in 15 short years (at least in the coastal provinces)...not all of it good, but on the whole, very much so. The industrial growth has drawn huge numbers of young workers into these provinces....it almost seems that everyone is 20 years or younger there. The excitement, energy, and transformation is almost palatable.

In comparison, the US seems "old" , like we've reached our high water mark. Certainly, this administration's policies seem to be affirming and facilitating this condition by not promoting new visions to transform the current reality.

Hate to say it, but there will be structural changes to our future standard of living (and it won't be necessarilly positive), it may very well erode as many of the 3rd world countries SOL increases. It is the great social equalizer of capitalism at work. It's an ugly fact, but I don't see how you can stop it.