[Sethomas]

I think once the EU will come to fruition as a confederacy, something that would come with little surprise in the next 15-30 years in my guesstimation, the US will actually be dwarfed. I love my country, but I love my world more and as such it wouldn't break my heart to see the US be lose some voice in the UN while seeing a growth in the UN's ability to enforce its ideals. I've always thought that there would be some moment of humility when we're hit with the realization that the world stage isn't (nor should be) dominated by a single actor. I speak from regret and not masochistic self-Schaddenfreude that our war with Iraq, especially if undertaken by its somewhat clandestine ideology, would be this font of humility. However, it strikes me that this in itself wouldn't be enough, but perhaps if the US were to default on its loans (something that scares the shit outta me) then it'd come.

My estimation is that within the next sixty years, the US will retain the things that make it wonderful without building upon them proportionally with the rest of the world. Hence, we'll be a large power among many large powers.