Is US on Decline?

The incident of burning Muslim holy book, the Qoran, in the United States is highly regrettable, shameful, and condemnable act. Although it is an incident of isolated nature, it has exposed the mentality and culture of a world power. The protest that should have been expressed against the incident in the United States has not been seen. This incident indicates that the United States is on the decline. The Muslim world should take a strict notice of this incident and pressure the US Administration to take action against the fake and cruel pastor to satisfy the sentiments of Muslims across the world and ensure that no one could even think of desecrating any holy book in future.

Basic Amenities

According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a 15-year-old US student is at 25th place in global ranking of mathematics and at 17th place in the ranking of science. After occupying first place as for number of graduates in a country, the United States is now at 12th place on this count in the developed world. As for high school enrolment (preceding word in English), the United States is at 79th place. As far as basic amenities are concerned, the United States comes at 23rd place in the world. All developed countries are far ahead of the United States in this regard.

According to health figures released by the OECD and World Health Organization (WHO), the situation in the United States is quite surprising and alarming. The United States is at 27th places on account of average age, 18th on account of diabetes, and first in obesity. The US performance has been good in these departments in the past, but not today.

The United States is still at first place in a few matters. For example, it has the highest number of private homes in the world. The highest crime rate in developed countries is in the United States. Moreover, the United States is also the most indebted country of the world. If the United States is facing difficulties today, it does not mean that the United States has committed some blunder. But the reality is that other countries are showing well. Japan has been giving a tough time to the United States for the past three decades. Tokyo has been the world's second biggest economy during these three decades. Rather, it is still the third biggest world economy.

It was said in 1980s that Japan would emerge as the most powerful country in the world. But it did not happen and the United States emerged the most powerful state. Japan is a very small country vis-à-vis area and population. Japan can pose a real danger to any developed country, but has no capability to become a superpower. As far as per capita income in concerned, Japan is much behind other countries. If China is to take over the United States in economic field, it will have to enhance per capita income to one-fourth of the United States, as it will be sufficient for the Chinese people.

Impact on Economy

In his latest book the Civilization: West And The Rest, Harvard University researcher Niall Ferguson writes that what the United States did during the past 500 years has been playing an important role in its development. Mancur Olson had written a book entitled The Rise and Decline of Nations several decades ago, which said that Germany and Japan, who suffered massive destruction during the Second World War, made exemplary development after the war, but the economy of Britain, which was declared victorious in the war, continued to grow weaker and it also lost the status of a superpower. Giving its reasons, the writer said after the victory, the people in Britain became satisfied. They were assured that they are the number one in the world. As a result, the British gave up competition with other nations. The British Government also abandoned the desire of overtaking the others.

However, Germany and Japan, which were completely destroyed in the war, decided to work hard and show to the world their superiority. Both these countries learned a lot from their defeat and destruction. The worst defeat made the Germans to do extraordinary in other fields. Therefore, the Germans rose up and regained their lost status just in four decades through great hard work. The defeat made the Germans to do soul-searching. They analyzed their mistakes and rebuilt all major industrial organizations afresh. They brought a revolution in the education sector and became the world's third big economy.

Changing Times

The United States not prepared to learn anything more. It thinks that whatever it has is enough to keep it on top. It is happy and satisfied with its position. It is not ready to change with the time. It must be remembered that only that nation progresses, which changes itself with changing times. Olson's research says that successful societies gradually start rotting. According to him, its solution is that no society should remain stagnant. Rather it should be flexible so that the changing times could be better negotiated with. It is government's job to make the best preparations for the future. It is also government's responsibility to make considerable investment in fundamental infrastructure and prepare young generation to look after new industries in keeping with changing times.

There is no doubt that the United States faces numerous difficulties. Its problems are also increasing. Analyzing the situation the United States faces today, experts emphasize two aspects. On one hand, is decline in social values and structure. The education system is weak and new generation lacks the spirit of working with full devotion. The political system in the United States has become ineffective. On the other, is there physical structure. Americans have made very little investment in the United States. Debt burden is on the increase and the infrastructure of basic amenities has become quite weak.

Ground Realities

If one sees these things coupled with many other small signs, he will come to know that the United States is fast declining. The US attempts to capture the world are continuously meeting with failures. Its dreams have shattered right from Vietnam to Afghanistan. These wars have inflicted irreparable loss on the US economy. And the US Administration is perhaps unable to realize this loss.

However, China is making a continued progress because of its wisdom and better strategy. If China got a conducive environment in coming 10 years and imperialist forces did not subject it to conspiracies, it will emerge as the world's biggest economic power. The US society is breaking from within as well. The ground realities in the United States are not coming to light. The crimes in the United States have increased to an alarming extent. If the United States did not change its policy of capturing the world, no one will be able to save it from declining.