For centuries England ruled the waves, and for a time held the greatest empire the world had ever seen, an empire where the sun never set. But they had the foresight and courage to recognize and accept America's ascension foreseen by Kipling and made official by the Great War. But America's supremacy is coming to a close, whether due to the faster pace of the times or our own cultural failings or, more likely, both. We are fast coming to the last stanza of Kipling's poem:
Take up the White Man's burden!
Have done with childish days--
The lightly-proffered laurel,
The easy ungrudged praise:
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Our peers? The great empires of the past: China, Rome, and above all, England. Their empires lasted far longer than our own, but I would submit that the reason their empires were much longer-lived is due to modern technology and the faster pace of change in the world of today.
Will we have the great good graces that England had when she passed that torch of supremacy to us? Will we have a poet with the foresight of Kipling who will help us understand the irresistible march of history? Poetry is the truest of arts, and perhaps the sunset of America's supremacy will be heralded by another form of art, whether in song or in film; but the artist must have the soul of a poet, and I say the time of this sunset poet is now at hand.
I suspect we can all agree that the next nation to take on the mantle of world leadership will be China. If China does take the torch of supremacy from America, then that is a new thing, for it has been the pattern over the centuries that once a people has known the greatness of empire, when they have stood at the pinnacle of power for generations and ruled not only by might but also by cultural and educational influence, once they descend from that summit, they never again ascend it. It looks as if China may be the first to break that pattern. But how many centuries did it take before they as a nation were ready to do so? That is indeed a macrosociological question that begs to be addressed, for the answer just might give a glimmer of hope that America may one day rise again.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Clavos
A couple of your indicators exist for reasons having nothing to do with the decline of America, Glenn:
The lack of high speed rail hinges oin the fact that America is an auto-centric society, and despite predictions to the contrary, not likely to give up its cars in favor of trains, no matter how fast they go. And for trips greater than 500 miles, the airplanes are much faster.
The merchant marine is almost nonexistent thanks to the maritime unions, who made it too expensive to operate American flagged ships. Many of the current fleets flagged elsewhere are, in fact American-owned; especially the cruise lines.
America is declining, I agree; but our population's increasing dependence on the largess of the government for their sustenance is, in my opinion, the primary reason for the decline.
Americans have lost their gumption and spirit; we've become a nation of whiners.
2 - Anarcissie
There is already a poet of American decline who has come and gone: Allen Ginsberg, whose oeuvre includes Howl, Wichita Vortex Sutra, and The Fall of America. Ginsberg, of course, did not locate America in industrial power or imperial might, but in culture, especially moral culture. Kipling made a similar point in 'Recessional' in somewhat more traditional language and meter. It's too bad only hippie intellectual types ever listen to these people before it's too late.
3 - Glenn Contrarian
Clavos -
I think you missed my point - again, the root cause is not partisan politics, it's not unions or the lack thereof, or the fact that we're a nation of whiners or a nation of "your problem is not my problem" adherents. The poopy diaper is not what's really causing the baby to cry.
It's the hubris of supremacy, and willful ignorance is ever its developmentally-disabled offspring.
4 - John Lake
Our problem is not in a lack of railroads. It is in a growing immoral culture, and in the devolving of our religions. The "Stranger, in a Strange Land" grows stranger still with every passing day.
5 - jamminsue
Glenn,
Excellent, your poopy diapers comment shows the true face of partisanship beautifully.
6 - jamminsue
John - whose morals?
7 - Igor
Anarcissie,
Thanks for mentioning Ginsberg. It's probably difficult for the typical modern American to understand how shocking and revolutionary "Howl" was in it's day.
Clavos takes the opportunity to trot out the same old tired rightist talking points propaganda. One might well wonder when he will tire of sucking up to the Perfumed Princes he tries to sell overpriced boats to by constantly muttering words of encouragement and justification in their ears, or whatever part of the anatomy he is closest to at the moment.
8 - Igor
That last phrase should read "...whatever part of their anatomy his lips are closest to at the moment".
9 - Glenn Contrarian
It should be noted that people have been predicting the decline and fall of America for generations...and I guess now it's my turn. Time will tell if I'm right.
10 - Clavos
One might well wonder when he will tire of sucking up to the Perfumed Princes he tries to sell overpriced boats to...
As long as they keep selling: never.
That last phrase should read "...whatever part of their anatomy his lips are closest to at the moment".
Usually their anuses, but sometimes their penises.
Whatever it takes...
11 - El Bicho
"a growing immoral culture, and in the devolving of our religions."
Right. Ever since the kids starting doing the jitterbug, it's been all downhill
12 - Glenn Contrarian
El B -
No, our descent began when we began having the mindset that "if it's not an American idea, then it must not be good for America". I'd say it began in the 1950's in the afterglow of our victory in WWII, and cemented itself in our national psyche when we landed on the moon.
13 - roger nowosielski
Shoot, I thought El Bicho was dead serious.
14 - Clavos
EB is never dead serious...
15 - Glenn Contrarian
Not when he's dead. Perhaps when he's alive, sometimes....
And Roger - this article is partially because of your encouragement a few months ago. Thanks.
16 - roger nowosielski
I haven't read it yet, but now you perked my interest.
That would be quite a step for you, Glenn. But it's no reason to be pessimistic. All Empires reach their zenith and then suffer a decline. I don't see why America should be an exception.
17 - roger nowosielski
Gave it a quick read, Glenn. You really surprised me.
But here's where I disagree with you. It's not the American people who have failed, it's our government and the rapacious economic system to which our government is beholden. We're still have the penchant for innovation, initiative and spirit, but it has to be channeled along different lines. IMO, capitalism is done with America, squeezed it dry, which is why business is no longer investing here. But we still have the best technology that money can buy, our greatest asset. But we better start making a move soon and stop being dependent on government dole.
I posted a link on my OWS, the prospects, thread, showing how the idea of owners-workers enterprises is gaining momentum. Take a look at it. I find it very encouraging. That's one direction the people can take. But again, we can't be dependent on the government doing anything for us, because once we adopt this posture, we'll have lost all the edge.
18 - Zingzing
I work for three companies at the moment, one that is almost wholly dependent upon gov't money, and another two that have embraced multinational strategies, although based in the USA. Needless to say, the gov't sucking one is floundering, while the other two are thriving. being tied to the gov't in the middle of a recession is a bad situation, although in better economic times, it can be a boon. This company trains kids in vocational careers. Both of the other companies i work for have strong ties to Asia, one in Korea and India (a cosmetics company) and the other in Japan and china (a media company). Capitalism is not dead, although it's having its struggles right now.
19 - Zingzing
Stupid iPad. Anyway. I don't quite know what my point is, but spreading the risk among various economies and not tying yourself to one gov't source of revenue seems to make things easier.
20 - Igor
17-Roger: I disagree with you on this point:
"But again, we can't be dependent on the government doing anything for us, because once we adopt this posture, we'll have lost all the edge."
But then you have surrendered the initiative to the banks and financiers who are ALWAYS and incessantly demanding attention. And they GET attention, from the generously bribed politicians and everyone they deal with.
Your policy says "I'm finished." Maybe that's OK for you, but what about all the other people who will suffer because of your easy surrender.
21 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
I don't think I'm being pessimistic - just objective. I see what I see...and I really don't think it's a direct result of our economic system or our government, for as you know, we've had significantly worse of each before in the 20th century.
Our government and our economy doesn't force us to reject science, to reject what works very well in other nations, to reject any attempts at great achievements as a nation - unless it's war, that is.
No, Roger, I'm referring to a sea change in our national psyche, and I believe that change started when we were on top of the world and America could do no wrong and everyone wanted to BE American. At one time it was very special to BE a Roman citizen, or to BE a Union Jack-waving citizen of the British Empire.
As history shows us, all empires fall, and all our national hubris eventually becomes only an Ozymandian dream. Such is the march of history, and we are now beginning our decline.
And from what I understand, Mandarin is easier to learn than is English.
22 - roger nowosielski
@20
I'm suggesting precisely the opposite, Igor. Formation of co-ops, whether in manufacturing or finance, has precisely the effect of by-passing the business sector which is not going to deliver.
Again, my argument is that the people are not helpless. We all have skills, it's just a matter of pulling together.
Again, I'm making reference here to the link on the OWS thread -- which, to my mind, is setting an example.
23 - roger nowosielski
I'm not arguing, Glenn, that we're not in the period of national decline. That's rather plain to see. My concern is with the people.
I suppose the connection between national prosperity and the people's prosperity has been more or less an illusion for quite some time.
Do I make any sense?
24 - roger nowosielski
Whatever the case, though, I think it's rather premature for Obama to claim he's one of finest presidents in American history:
see clip.
25 - zingzing
kim jong il is dead. crazy.