America the superpower - How did we achieve this godlike status?
59 replies, posted
America is considered the only remaining superpower after the fall of the USSR. But what made us like this?
I don't mean what is considered "superpower", because theres a clear definition:
[quote=Wikiped]A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests. A superpower is traditionally considered to be a step higher than a great power.[/quote]
But what factors led to the United States becoming a superpower? what was embedded so deep in our society that led us to become the most powerful country in the world?
Was it our geography? We certainly have a vast landscape that suits pretty much all forms of industry. In the south we have perfect weather for agriculture of any crop. In the north we have a climate that prefers a more industrial form, because of the shitty weather.
Maybe our Laissez-faire "take no prisoners" economic ideology? The united states was born of classical liberal ideology, especially in our economy, where we are told in school that the revolutionary war is about taxes, plus the scars of the cold war era, where a controlled economy was associated with communism, and therefor discriminated against.
Perhaps our political system? We have one of the freest political climates in the world, (even if it is bipartisan, you have the right to express yourself as you see fit) and that leads to a lot less political instability because people are happy with our ability to change our government as we want to peacefully rather than having to violently revolt.
Or our diversity? The aforementioned facts attract the smartest immigrants to come to our country. "Brain Drain" leads to our diverse society receiving the smartest and richest immigrants from foreign countries to come and make something of themselves here.
What do you think Facepunch?
I think it was because WW2. We weren't really a superpower till the end of it because the economy was boosted by all the jobs created after the need for weapons and ammunition. Now we are quickly falling down from the top status due to stupid mistakes and retarded spending.
I thought there are other superpowers?
It was basically a combination of things. Breaking away from where we came from and then defeating them to gain our independence. That didn't cause it, but it didn't hurt. Then of course there were the wars that we were involved with and allowed us to show our industrial capacity and our strength in defeating other super powers.
Then it was just one of those silent titles. There is a lot more to it all. I'm not sure why we were claimed the "most powerful", but we were definitely as powerful as the most powerful countries in the world. Every country belonged in the same category due to them all being able to carry out great plans and a whole boat of other things.
A big part of it was a dick waving contest against the Soviets.
That kinda died down, though. And once they were gone they left a country or two in civil war which we had to fight in, and mixed with all that spending we've done and a war over WMDs that don't exist, the country is fucked.
Also not to mention that we were virturally the only modern country in the world with no damage to our building, roads, or factories after the war.
[QUOTE=Jiyoon;29818299]
But what factors led to the United States becoming a superpower? what was embedded so deep in our society that led us to become the most powerful country in the world?
[/QUOTE]
Because nukes
[QUOTE=Hakita;29818356]I thought there are other superpowers?[/QUOTE]
This is about the US. We are at the top [i]as of now[/i].
We became the best because we had a different vision. We were free at the time without any monarchy and you can do whatever the hell you wanted. Immigrants took jobs in factories, and made their own living selling things. We expanded quickly and produced [b]our own[/b] products and were able to sustain ourselves and effectively sell and boost the economy. Eventually we began importing more and it went down the shitter. Now we have like five farms and we make corn and hamburgers.
Because we kick ass and chew bubble gum.
Haha, typical american circle jerk. Russia is still a superpower, and a fair bit of people would consider Britain/the commonwealth as a whole to be one too.
[QUOTE=Shadow Core;29818440]Because we kick ass and chew bubble gum.[/QUOTE]
And we are all out of ass...
[QUOTE=Elspin;29818453]Haha, typical american circle jerk. Russia is still a superpower, and a fair bit of people would consider Britain/the commonwealth as a whole to be one too.[/QUOTE]
Supers United :D?
[QUOTE=Elspin;29818453]Haha, [b]typical american circle jerk.[/b] Russia is still a superpower, and a fair bit of people would consider Britain/the commonwealth as a whole to be one too.[/QUOTE]
Don't start it.
I would consider, collectively, the EU as a super power. Can't forget about the UK, and Russia is actually fairly powerful as well.
Yeah, why did you put "the super power" there are other super powers in the world.
[QUOTE=SNNS-SEAN;29818389]A big part of it was a dick waving contest against the Soviets.
That kinda died down, though. And once they were gone they left a country or two in civil war which we had to fight in, and mixed with all that spending we've done and a war over WMDs that don't exist, the country is fucked.[/QUOTE]
What? America fought in Vietnam and Korea but the Union was still around then.
[quote]
Maybe our Laissez-faire "take no prisoners" economic ideology? The united states was born of classical liberal ideology, especially in our economy, where we are told in school that the revolutionary war is about taxes, plus the scars of the cold war era, where a controlled economy was associated with communism, and therefor discriminated against.[/quote]
Our economy isn't Laissez-faire at all. Do you not remember the government bailouts that just happened not a couple of years ago?
Ahh yeah we're so fucking good *Wank wank* ungh fuck we're so fucking awesome, fucking america yeahh uunghh, we're so fucking AWESOME *wank wank wank* we're such a fucking SUPERPOWER, we're so fucking GODLIKE, fucking little other countries should go fuck themselves mmm america.
It's because you were built off the back of Great Britain.
China, India, EU (as a whole), France, Germany, The UK (maybe) and a few more are considered superpowers as well as the US.
WWII was where America got most of its money. It made up around 50% of the world's GDP. With a dick waving contest with the soviets and the Vietnam War, we just wasted our money on thousands and thousands of bombs. That isn't even that bad. Ronald Reagan or Gerald Ford, raised America's Nuclear Weapons to the extremes, I can't recall the number exactly but I believe it was very high. And we used a couple trillion dollars to make them.
[QUOTE=ItsGary;29818416]This is about the US. We are at the top [I]as of now[/I].
[/QUOTE]
Since you owe a shitload of money to China I'd consider them more powerful than the U.S.A
And they save their money instead of spending it on shit and credit card debt.
And they have enough people to drown everyone in the U.S in their piss.
China in a few years it will be bigger and more powerful than the US.
[QUOTE=Lust;29818532]Ahh yeah we're so fucking good *Wank wank* ungh fuck we're so fucking awesome, fucking america yeahh uunghh, we're so fucking AWESOME *wank wank wank* we're such a fucking SUPERPOWER, we're so fucking GODLIKE, fucking little other countries should go fuck themselves mmm america.[/QUOTE]
I think you are jelly.
[QUOTE=WhatTheKlent;29818580]Since you owe a shitload of money to China I'd consider them more powerful than the U.S.A
And they save their money instead of spending it on shit and credit card debt.
And they have enough people to drown everyone in the U.S in their piss.[/QUOTE]
Sadly it's true.
by being massive cunts to everyone else?
It's because the US is the shining beacon of morality, justice, democracy and freedom for the rest of the world. Every country that isn't the US wants to be the US.
[QUOTE=WhatTheKlent;29818580]Since you owe a shitload of money to China I'd consider them more powerful than the U.S.A
And they save their money instead of spending it on shit and credit card debt.[/QUOTE]
They're more powerful? What are they going to do if we don't give them money? Invade us with their clone troopers?
Nobody is a 'super power' any more.
[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;29818592]It's because the US is the shining beacon of morality, justice, democracy and freedom for the rest of the world. Every country that isn't the US wants to be the US.[/QUOTE]
I heard... "How the rest of the world should be, but isn't."
America will be a superpower for a few more decades at best.
It became a superpower because it built up shittons of industry, became wealthy and waited until the British empire was exhausted by multiple wars when it decided to become the leader of the world.
Cept now Americas out of cash, rather decadent and challenged by other nations. Whenever a nation becomes decadent it will almost always soon go down the shitter.
Before the Second World War, the US had an isolationist foreign policy, yet it had one of the strongest economies in the world. After the Second World War, Truman along with Kennan pretty much decided America's fate. When the US decided that it would help Europe rather than let it fall to stalinism, the world was polarised for the second time. The Marshall Plan pretty much saved Greece, Turkey, France, Britain and Italy from communist uprisings and dissent. There is evidence that Stalin actually adhered to the percentage agreement and didn't interfere with Europe, but his dealings in Germany certainly show that he wished to put as much distance between him and the US. Germany had its own miraculous recovery, and soon after Stalin dropped that. When the truman doctrine came into play, the US became a superpower. The US had to save Europe and when it did, it won the hearts and minds of Europeans. NSC 68 pretty much ensured that the US would use its economic and military might to stop foreign and domestic communism. As General Clay said, "People would rather be communists on 1500 calories a day than a capitalist on 1000 calories a day."
[editline]14th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Kingy_why;29818556]China, India, EU (as a whole), France, Germany, The UK (maybe) and a few more are considered superpowers as well as the US.[/QUOTE]
The UK hasn't been a superpower since 1945.
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