Part 3 of 3 (See Archives for parts 1 and 2)

Will America Always Be A World Power?

"American global hegemony is now a fact of life.  No one, including America, has any choice in the matter...Eventually, even if not soon, America's global dominance will fade. It is therefore not too early for Americans to seek to determine the shape of their hegemony's eventual legacy."   
- Zbigniew Brzezinski, former Carter National Security Advisor

(Part 2 of a 3 part series) 

In his renowned essay, "The Fate of Empires", Sir John Glubb, wrote about what he called "the lives of empires", which he calculated to live approximately 250 years.  

His motive was to try and help preserve prosperous, leading nations. He felt if governments could understand patterns in the history of world empires and what caused them to fail, that maybe future world leaders would begin to avoid the things that eventually lead to the downfall of their predecessors.

This November, America will elected it's 45th President. We all know that America is in deep financial, social, educational and moral trouble. All agree that our current condition is unsustainable.  

In my lifetime (I'm a Baby Boomer) I can't recall our country EVER being in a worse condition. I'm sure the generation before mine that experienced the Great Depression felt the same way. For those of us born in the 40's, 50's and 60's, we have enjoyed a relatively prosperous, safe and fun existence as Americans. But all that changed on 9/11. It's been eleven years ago, and at this point in time, things are not getting better.

The "normal" American people-those of us who live in the real world-know it's not a matter of Republican or Democrat. We're bored with the meaningless, petty rhetoric that both parties blame the other with. And please spare me another politician who declares he/she is going to "fight" for me. That type of posturing and mind-set is the problem. What we need are politicians who do less fighting and more leading in a Bi-partisan manner.      

We are definitely at an important, I would say, historic, fork in the road in our nation's history. Who can doubt that we need better leadership?  

The question is - Will our President be able and willing to learn from history and avoid the same mistakes of their predecessors that led to the downfall of other great nations?

Let's take a look at this study of world empires and see how we measure up and what we can learn as the current lone super power in the world.

I have broken down the essay and tried to highlight the things that I felt were most relevant for you to compare and draw your own conclusions as to the State of our Union in relation to this study.

"The Fate of Empires" - By Sir John Glubb
(This essay was written in 1976)

 

"...the duration of empires does not depend on the speed of travel or the nature of weapons. The Assyrians marched on foot and fought with spears and bow and arrows. The British used artillery, railways and ocean-going ships. Yet the two empires lasted for approximately the same periods... 

"There is a tendency nowadays to say that this is the jet-age, and consequently there is nothing for us to learn from past empires. Such an attitude seems to be erroneous... 

 "Today we attach immense importance to the ideology of our internal politics...It is, therefore, interesting to note that the life-expectation of a great nation does not appear to be in any way affected by the nature of its institutions...   

"Past empires show almost every possible variation of political system, but all go through the same procedure from the Age of Pioneers through Conquest, Commerce, Affluence to decline and collapse."

1. 250 years emerges as the average length of national greatness. This average has not varied for 3,000 years.  

• If we take 1776 as our birth date - America is 236 years old  

2. The stages of the rise and fall of great nations seem to be:

The Age of Pioneers  

The Age of Conquests

The Age of Commerce 

(I left out commentary on these first three only to cut down on the amount of text and because I felt a review of those periods of our history were not as relevant for our purposes here. Again, if you want the whole document, just Google, search, and you shall find.) 

The Age of Affluence:  

• "There does not appear to be any doubt that money is the agent which causes the decline of this strong, brave and self-confident people. The decline in courage, enterprise and a sense of duty is, however, gradual." 

• "The first direction in which wealth injures the nation is a moral one. Money replaces honor and adventure as the objective of the best young men." 

• "Gradually, and almost imperceptibly, the Age of Affluence silences the voice of duty."   

• "Indeed the change might be summarized as being from service to selfishness. ...the weakening of a sense of duty in the citizens, and the increase in selfishness and the desire for wealth and ease." 

The Age of Intellect:  

• "Another remarkable and unexpected symptom of national decline is the intensification of internal political hatreds. One would have expected that, when the survival of the nation became precarious, political factions would drop their rivalry and stand shoulder-to-shoulder to save their country."

• "True to the normal course followed by nations in decline, internal differences are not reconciled in an attempt to save the nation. On the contrary, internal rivalries become more acute, as the nation becomes weaker."

• "The Roman mob...demanded free meals and public games...athletic events were their passion...The heroes of declining nations are always the same-the athlete, the singer or the actor." 

• "The works of the contemporary historians of Baghdad in the early tenth century are still available...They lamented also the corruption of the officials of the government and the fact that politicians always seemed to amass large fortunes while they were in office."

• "The people of the great nations of the past seem normally to have imagined that their pre-eminence would last for ever..."

• "That sentiments like these could be publicly expressed without evoking derision shows that, in all ages, the regular rise and fall of great nations has passed unperceived. The simplest statistics prove the steady rotation of one nation after another at regular intervals."

The Age of Decadence 

• "The Welfare State: The rights of citizenship are generously bestowed on every race, even those formerly subject, and the equality of mankind is proclaimed..."

• "University students received government grants to cover their expenses while they were receiving higher education."

• "The State likewise offered free medical treatment to the poor..."

• "The impression that it will always be automatically rich causes the declining empire to spend lavishly on its own benevolence, until such time as the economy collapses, the universities are closed and the hospitals fall into ruin."    

Decadence is due to:

• Too long a period of wealth and power
• Selfishness
• Love of money
• The loss of a sense of duty

"Any regime which attains great wealth and power seems with remarkable regularity to decay and fall apart in some ten generations."

Which Stage of "The Fate of Empires" Would You Say America's In?

If we're being honest, it would seem we're definitely in the stage of affluence and decadence as described by this study of world empire history. It's amazing how history does repeat itself because mankind refuses to learn from history - or is unable to help himself from the things that prosperity tempts him with that have lead to the downfall of others.   

What the above study is addressing is the cumulative effect of a political culture over at least a 200 year (or more) span. The Fate of Empires study gives us more of a Macro-view of a nation; a perspective of the landscape from 30,000 feet in the air. A birth, youth, adolescent, adult, and death historical life cycle. And I just wonder if our elected leaders are even looking from this perspective or aware of the internal condition of their patient?    

To be fair, it's unrealistic to expect any one President, even if elected to two terms in office, to undo or unravel a political culture that has been stitching itself together for generations. That said, and given our current national condition, our leaders over the past several decade have either been incompetent, had a hidden agenda, or just plain ignorant of history.  

I mean, how in the heck did we get here?     

A Call to Leadership  

Given our tumultuous national and global politics, the 2012 election will be key in shaping the American legacy of global power and leadership at a key juncture within the prophetic time clock.    

But there's another wave of change on the horizon in American politics at this historic time, and that is the transition of demographics where the minorities are becoming the majority-particularly amongst the Hispanic/Latino people: 

"When Bill Clinton was elected president of the United States, about 3.7 percent of the electorate was Latino," according to Stanford political scientist Gary Segura. "In this election year, it will be just under 10 percent. So the votes more or less tripled. And when you have that many more people and that many more voters, they matter in more places." Segura calls it "demographic panic."  

 Moreover, Segura points out that the story no longer begins and ends in Florida, Texas, and California. "We are surprised to hear that Latinos count in places like Wisconsin," he says, "or Pennsylvania, or Virginia - places that we don't think of as Latino-intensive states but where there's a growing Latino population and a growing Latino electorate." - Interview by Gwen Ifil, PBS Senior Correspondent

As the Latino population continues to grow and shape life in America, I believe a baton of leadership is being offered to us right now. The question is - will we accept it? Can we Lead?  

Moving from the margins to the mainstream hasn't been and won't be easy. It's a tough road ahead and what's needed for this journey of 21st century leadership in America are what I call "Heroes of Hardship". 

1. Leadership is about taking responsibility. It's about taking action to do something about an undesirable situation and not just complain about it.

Any honest person in America knows that all minorities in this country have not gotten a fair share of opportunity. We all know that unqualified people have received and been promoted into positions of power and authority that they neither deserved nor were qualified for simply because of their race.  

Latinos are no stranger to injustice, prejudice and discrimination. We accept that "white privilege" exists plain and simple and could go on listing the things that we could rightfully complain about. Nevertheless, complaining about something is never enough and we've been complaining as victims long enough.  

We've acted like second stringers sitting on the bench, grumbling about why we should be playing, pointing out all the fumbles and mistakes of those on the field. We've complained that if "we were only given a chance" we could prove ourselves worthy of that starting position, that salary, that job. I've said it myself and heard it from plenty of other friends and relatives for years. But it's time for the "bench gripping" to end.  

2. Our opportunity has arrived, our number has been called, and it's time to perform.  

The real question is, do we really want in the game? Can we really play at the first-class level? Can we deliver in the clutch situations? Are we ready to play in the big leagues of life and leadership?  

I believe we are and part of accepting the leadership challenge is embracing the following mind-set of "Heroes of Hardship":

• Racism and discrimination are realities we must live with, but we choose to move beyond self-pity.
• Playing on an uneven field is hard, but we still choose to compete.
• Playing without the breaks of the privileged is unfair, but we still choose to achieve our God-given potential.
• Playing with two strikes against us is challenging, but we choose not to strike out.
• Playing with extra emotional baggage is draining, but we choose to rise above emotion.
• Playing with one hand tied behind your back is awkward, but we choose to make the best of the hand we've been dealt in life.

Cesar Chavez was a player. Jackie Robinson was a player. Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. were players, just to name a few.  

These great leaders were willing to confront these obstacles on the field of life, overcome them, and become true Heroes of Hardship. Listen to the words of Nelson Mandela, a man who sacrificed his personal freedom for twenty eight years of his life as a political prisoner fighting to end the oppression and racism in his country:

"In life, everyman has two obligations - obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, and his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfill both of those obligations. But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and color to fulfill both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of color who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfill his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion...I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father, and a husband. In that way, my commitment to my people, to the millions of South African's I would never know or meet, was at the expense of the people I knew best and loved most."

You see, as we examine the state of our nation-it's easy to do it from the stands, from the sidelines-the margins of society. It's easy to blame those at the top and play the victim.

Mandela teaches us to let go of the victim mentality, end the blame game, and get over it for the good of others. Nelson Mandelas' story is a prime example of why we can no longer act like helpless minorities, incapable of overcoming our past and using it as an excuse to not take charge of our own destiny as a country.

Yes, this is an historic election and we're headed for some rough times. But we've been prepared for it by our hardships. Out of rough times - LEADERS ARE BORN, LEADERS ARE MADE, and leaders hear the voice of destiny, the voice of history and legacy calling them off the margins and into the mainstream of influence and leadership for this time of national & global transformation.

3. Affliction, Loss &  Chaos A Good Thing for America's Future? 

Maybe the only way America can get back on track is not to avoid tough times but to suffer through them. Maybe it would be good to "lose". Maybe our "salvation" lies in the path of more hardship, pain and turmoil...just maybe. Maybe we need to be like the person who doesn't look to change his ways until he hits rock bottom.  

History teaches us that sometimes "affliction" is the best path to revitalization. Sir John Glubb concludes his study of The Fate of Empires with the following statement:   

"But while despair might permeate the greater part of the nation, others achieved a new realization of the fact that only readiness for self-sacrifice could enable a community to survive....

In this manner, at the height of vice and frivolity the seeds of religious revival are quietly sown. After, perhaps, several generations (or even centuries) of suffering, the impoverished nation has been purged of its selfishness and its love of money, religion regains its sway and a new era sets in. 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted,' said the psalmist, 'that I might learn Thy Statutes.'

In his book, The Chaos Point - The World at a Crossroads, Ervin Laszlo
lays out his theory of how societies transform themselves:

"The transformation of society is not a chance-ridden haphazard process; chaos and systems theory disclose that it follows a recognizable pattern:

1. The Trigger Phase: Innovations in hard technologies bring greater efficiency and manipulation of nature for human needs.
2. The Accumulation Phase: Social and environmental relations bring higher levels of production, faster growth of population, increase in social complexity and greater impact on the natural environment.
3. The Decision Window: Changed social and environmental relations puts pressure on the established order, honored values, worldviews and ethics are questioned and society becomes unstable.
4. The Chaos Point: The status quo becomes unsustainable and the systems evolution tips in one direction or another."

"Now a single rule holds: We cannot stand still, we cannot go back, we must keep moving. There are alternative ways we can move forward. There is a path to breakdown, as well as a path to a new world...the Chaos point is likely to be reached on or around the year 2012...that date, according to the Mayan system, will mark a gateway to a new epoch of planetary development, with a radically different kind of consciousness."

4. December 21, 2012

This is where the Mayan 2012 Calendar and prophecy becomes very interesting. According to the Mayans, by December 21, 2012 we will be on our way to the next phase of our 21st century journey

The Mayan Prophecy speaks to political, spiritual, and prophetic, parallels that I think you'll find interesting and is the subject of my next and final article...watch your email for it

RRR

Politics, America & 2012 Mayan Prophecy - "How Today's Politics Are Fulfilling Tomorrow's Prophecies"


1. Prophecy is Fulfilled Through Politics

We've been told all our lives never to mix politics with religion - but that would be a huge mistake for leaders, especially in light of two of the biggest upcoming events to take place in this generation:

• The 2012 Presidential Election   
• The Mayan Calendar Prophecy on 12.21.12

You see - Prophecy is often fulfilled and connected to politics, and in particular by those at the top.

Take it or leave it. Accept or reject it. Ignite or ignore your spirit. But for those leaders with an open mind and heart - hungry for more insight to "see" and understand the "State of the World" - I've put together this three part series for your edification.

Here's a few examples of why I say prophecy is often fulfilled and connected to politics.

The following were prophesied from the Judeo-Christian scriptures. I'm not assuming you believe the theology of the Judeo-Christian faith. That's not my point. Whatever you believe, these things are all a matter of historical fact - not faith - as foretold by the prophets of that time:

• It was prophesied to Abraham that the Jews would go into captivity for 400 years and then be delivered from bondage out of Egypt. Who did Moses need to confront and deal with in order to fulfill this prophecy? The Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh, the most powerful political ruler at that time. 
• The prophetic dreams given to Daniel - What were they about? The historical cycle of world politics and the ruling empires to rise and fall within the prophetic time clock of God's purposes. And in both sets of dreams, who was directly affected by the outcomes of those dreams? The King - the political world ruler of the day. And as we know from history, all four of the kingdoms prophesied about in those dreams; Babylonian, Medi0-Persia, Greece and Rome, rose to power and fell from power just as Daniel prophesied they would. The fifth, and last one, is still to come. 
• The scriptures prophesied that a savior - the Messiah - would be born in Bethlehem. However, when Mary was almost at full term in her pregnancy she was not living in Bethlehem. How then did this prophecy get fulfilled? The Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, decided he wanted a census of his empire and made a decree for everyone to return to their home cities to be counted. Joseph, being of the lineage of King David, returned to the city of David, Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. 
• Who gave the final word - or allowed - the prophesied crucifixion of Christ? A politician; The Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. 

 I could go on and on citing examples from both old and new testament scriptures - like the book of Revelation that lays out the whole global political scenario at the end of this age where Israel is the center of attention and attack by a confederacy of other nations.  

Then there are the prophecies of several other genres and religions, like 12.21.12 of the Ancient Mayans, which I will address later, but the point is that as a leader, it's unwise not to see politics through the lens of prophecy if you want to keep your finger on the pulse of future expectation and guidance for yourself and those following you seeking the path of  meaning and life's priorities. 

2. The Main Event - Blue Print for The One World Ruler

In Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the leading twenty nations of the world, referred to as the G20 nations, just finished another summit to discuss their primary subject, the global financial crisis.

In light of the prophetic time clock - these summits just continue to confirm the old news of the further development of a new world order.

"In light of the interconnectedness of the world economy, the G20 has led to a new paradigm of multilateral co-operation that is necessary in order to tackle current and future challenges effectively. The informal and flexible character of the G20 enables it to facilitate international
economic and financial cooperation, and address the challenges confronting the global economy." - Item 81 from the G20 Leaders 2012 Declaration

By most accounts we are probably still several years away from an actual one world global economy, but it continues to be pushed forward as the solution to the ongoing financial crisis. But let's get to the event that this is all leading to, according to biblical prophecy, and that is the emergence of a "One World Ruler".

This begs the questions:

• Is it really possible for one man to rule the whole world?
• If it were, what would have to happen, or what conditions would the world have to be in for this to be possible and/or acceptable? 

Both the OT book of Daniel and the NT book of Revelation (though there are many other supporting texts throughout other books in the bible) describe this one man as a world dictator, otherwise known as the "Anti-Christ".

In general most of the world (though not quite all ) have heard of "Armageddon" and the Anti-Christ or Mark of the Beast-666 and most are at least curious if it will happen, and if so, when and how will it all play out?

3. America Will No Longer Be America

The notion of a One World Ruler or Dictator does have some particular ramifications for our nation. Doesn't it?

For one, if what prophecy says is true about a world ruler/dictator to step on the world scene, I've come to one conclusion: it would be impossible for America to exist as it has been in history, or as it is today. In other words, America would no longer be America.

Consider the following prophesied scenarios:

• This man will be the ruling dictator of the whole world.
• There will be a one world religion where all will be required to worship this man the Bible refers to as "the Beast".
• There will be a one world global economy based on the "mark" or "number" of the "Beast" that all will be required to receive in order to buy or sell anything. 
• Those who refuse to cooperate with the above conditions will be executed.
• Eventually this world dictator will lead the nations of the world to attack and destroy the nation of Israel.  

This is the short list of political, religious and economic prophetic scenarios the scriptures lay out.

Now, in thinking about and considering the above, ponder the following questions:

1. Which of these conditions would our country allow and/or do nothing about?
2. Will we be too weak as a nation to do anything about it? Or, even worse, will we be the enforcers of it, given the fact that we are currently the only world's true military super power?  
3. Which of these scenarios have we not already seen in history? For example, mass murder of uncooperative people is nothing new. 
4. Which of these things have we not heard about or seen the signs of coming about as "Big Brother" continues to demand our cooperation in the loss of privacy for the sake of peace and security?  
5. Given today's and tomorrow's technology does it not seem feasible to you that all the people in the world could one day be tracked and controlled? We have to eat. We have to buy. We have to sell. We are dependent on the world's resources of energy, oil, water, land and grain. Who's gaining control of it all? 

4. World Control Through Technology - Feasible? 

Let me give you just one simple, but far reaching example, in case you are not familiar with what's coming down the pike next year that none of us who "buy and sell", will be able to escape:

EMV Chip Card Technology

EMV is a creation of a collaboration of Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV). It's now the global standard for credit and debit card payments that has replaced the magstripe we are used to swiping in the payment terminal in US stores. Of course this is all to be for our best interests and help avoid fraud and identity theft - but here's the deal - it's not optional:

"...a tipping point in global adoption has been reached with over 1.3 billion EMV payment cards in global circulation and more than 20 million terminlas active worldwide...the EMV standard is set to be introduced to the US market...following recent announcements by Visa and MasterCard with details of mandates for EMV migration in 2013."

This means no one will be able to do business without having this new chip card technology that will contain a vast amount of personal information about you that I won't get into now. All I'm pointing out is FEASIBILITY OF ONE WORLD ECONOMY AND CONTROL.  

"[EMV] will address problems US travelers sometimes encounter when using their magstripe cards overseas in a global chip card environment, a problem that has been growing as the rest of the world moves to EMV chip." 

America is the largest economy coming late to this system because US merchants here have resisted it since the 1990's when it was first implemented in Europe and other countries. But now it is a "mandate".  

"For US card issuers, acquirers and merchants, the realtiy is that EMV is coming...According to VISA, effective April 1, 2013, acquirers and payment processors will be required to support merchant acceptance of EMV chip transactions. And in October 2015 a liability shift will saddle merchants with losses for fraudulent transactions that could have been prevented if the merchants had installed EMV terminals."

In the latter part of the quote above, you can see the penalty banks and merchants will suffer if they don't cooperate. They will have to pay for any fraudulent transactions, something they don't have to do now. So, in other words, we "have to" cooperate with the new global system. And, according to the G20 agreement I quoted above, our government leaders are committed to this new system unfolding before us.

What about Cash?

Again, nothing new - but steadily moving forward and the signs are all around us of how the world is slowly progressing towards a cashless society.
 
5. The Future New World Identity Control - Logical? 

The Fujitsu PalmSecure sensor uses a near-infrared light to capture a person's palm vein pattern, generating a unique biometric template that is matched against pre-registered users' palm vein patterns.

National & Crime ID - Monday, August 31, 2009 -RNCOS, an industry research firm, has released a global biometric forecast ...a compound annual growth rate of 18% is expected from 2010 to 2012 due to growing identity theft and security concerns...The use of biometric systems for civil and criminal identification are expected to continue to drive the market.

Education - August 28, 2009 in News
The French National Commission for Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) has authorized use of vascular-based biometric systems for ensuring identity of standardized test-takers in France.

Health Care - Data security and identity management in healthcare has never been more critical...The Fujitsu PalmSecure device is a logical solution for these situations.

PalmSecure is only one example of other biometric and technological systems being implemented in the name of "efficiency, convenience and security" 

• "And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, except that had the mark..." - Rev. 13. 16,17     

6. Prophetic, Psychological and Political Preparation for a World Ruler

The idea, or attempt, for one man to try and rule the world is nothing new. Alexander the Great, The Roman Cesar's, Napoleon, Hitler - to name a few - all had aspirations to do so. But what's different this time is that the coming world ruler will not force his way to rule, but will rather be welcomed and heralded as a great leader: "...and all the whole world went after the beast in amazement and admiration...and worshiped the beast, exclaiming, who is a match for the beast, and who can make war against him?" (Rev. 13. 3,4)

• In January of 2011, TV Host and political pundit, Chris Matthews hosted a TV special he called - "President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon" - He stated: "There's not a single political figure today with the global reach and influence of Bill Clinton...No one else in today's political arena has the ability to command the attention of world leaders and organizations everywhere quite like he does."
• June 2011: Former Prime Minister of England, Tony Blair stated: "The European Union must elect a president...and lead the European Union on the world stage..." He argued, "that a popular president elected by an electorate consisting of 386 million people, in 27 countries, would send a powerful message to governments around the world...a shift in the perception of the bloc's role from one as a peacemaker to one as a world superpower."
• September 2009 - NBC's Ann Curry: "In your speeches, you pray for God to hasten the arrival of the hidden Imam, the Muslim messiah. Would you tell us...What is your relationship with the hidden Imam, and how soon do you think before the second coming?" Iranian President Ahmadinejad: "Yes, that's true.  I prayed for the arrival of the 12th Imam.  The owner of the age, as we call him.  Because the owner of the age is the symbol of the justice and brotherly love prevailing around the world.  When the Imam arrives, all of these problems will be resolved.   
•  Henry Kissinger on Obama, 2009: "Obama the manufactured messiah out of nowhere, Kissinger writes, is the answer. "The extraordinary impact of the president-elect on the imagination of humanity is an important element in shaping a new world order." According to Kissinger, the rapidly unfolding economic depression and accompanying misery for billions of people "generates a unique opportunity for creative diplomacy" to usher in "a world financial order" and force sovereign nations "to face the reality that its dilemmas can be mastered only by common action," that is to say through world government and a New World Order."    

Please don't read more into what I'm pointing out here.

I'm NOT saying that Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, President Ahmadinejad, or President Obama are candidates for the Anti-Christ. What I'm pointing out is the feasibility and preparation we see and hear all around us for acceptance of a world ruler as "the rapidly unfolding economic depression and accompanying misery of billions of people" in the world continues to grow.

7. The American Dollar & The Global Economy?

• G8 Meeting-July 2009: "Russian President Dmitry Medvedev illustrated his call for a supranational currency to replace the dollar by pulling from his pocket a sample coin of a 'united future world currency'... China has expressed support for Russia's proposal to hand the IMF the power to create a new supra-national global currency in response to the call for an alternative to the U.S. dollar as the world reserve currency."  
• July 2009: "POPE Benedict XVI has proposed a new world political authority "with real teeth", possibly in place of the United Nations, to enforce an ethical financial order and end the global financial crisis.    

Need I say more?
You can accept, reject, laugh at, scorn or do whatever you want - but all these things are the reality of this age right now and regardless of what you believe - our country and this world are going somewhere new and it's all happening right before our eyes. And as you can see political leaders and public policy are leading the way.

(Sources for the above quotes? Just Google any of the terms above and you'll have more information than you can handle.)

8. Can America Survive As The Lone World Super Power?

"Historically, America has shown that it rises to the occasion when challenged. But the world of the twenty-first century presents far different challenges form those in the past. The world is now almost everywhere politically awakened-with millions stirring restlessly in pursuit of a better future. . It is also experiencing the dispersal of global power...Consequently the world is much less susceptible to domination by a single power, even by one as militarily powerful and politically influential as the United States...a stable global order ultimately depends on America's ability to renew itself and to act wisely..." - Zbigniew Brzezinski, former Carter National Security Advisor and professor of American foreign policy at the school of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University.

 
The answer to the above question depends upon whether President Obama or Mitt Romney will learn from history - something other world leaders of prosperous nations have proven not to do - and lead America to renew itself and act wisely in the years ahead.

That is the subject of the second article in this three part series...