Reality Check
With all the Mass Psychosis fear and anxiety in the media, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss where America stands today. Sometimes, the Boogeymen seem so terrible... and we need a reality check.
The Global Economy
Although there is endless talk about China becoming the most powerful economy on Terra, they still have a long way to go. In 2021, the US economy remained vastly larger than China. In fact the US economy is larger than all of NATO combined and totally dwarfs Russia (The GDP of little South Korea is larger than Russia).
Another point of optimism is the growth in Global Prosperity. The Global Economy was only about $3T in 1970 (roughly $19T inflation adjusted) and grew to $92T by 2021. This is a more than 4X increase in the past 50 years. The global population was 3.7 Billion in 1970 and is 7.8 Billion today. In other words, population doubled but prosperity quadrupled during a period where the elites kept saying that scarcity would soon destroy civilization.
In fact, prosperity has been steadily increasing faster than population growth during the era of PAX-Americana.
With all the Mass Psychosis fear and anxiety in the media, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss where America stands today. Sometimes, the Boogeymen seem so terrible... and we need a reality check.
The Global Economy
Although there is endless talk about China becoming the most powerful economy on Terra, they still have a long way to go. In 2021, the US economy remained vastly larger than China. In fact the US economy is larger than all of NATO combined and totally dwarfs Russia (The GDP of little South Korea is larger than Russia).
Another point of optimism is the growth in Global Prosperity. The Global Economy was only about $3T in 1970 (roughly $19T inflation adjusted) and grew to $92T by 2021. This is a more than 4X increase in the past 50 years. The global population was 3.7 Billion in 1970 and is 7.8 Billion today. In other words, population doubled but prosperity quadrupled during a period where the elites kept saying that scarcity would soon destroy civilization.
In fact, prosperity has been steadily increasing faster than population growth during the era of PAX-Americana.
Military Power
I know that many people feel that military power is BAD. They feel that America is an evil bully and the whole world should just have a Coke and sing in perfect harmony. Well, that ain't gonna happen.... so let's think like adults.
In my opinion, I'd rather have America as Top Dog than anyone else... and it isn't just because I happen to be American (though that certainly is a factor). Our major competitors on the world stage have committed the worst acts of genocide in human history... mostly against their own 'citizens'.
I do not trust them or any grand global government.
The United States remains the global military super-power. In 2020 we spent $765B on defense which is more than the next 7 countries combined. Russia, now regarded as the third ranked world power spent only $66.84B. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/defense-spending-by-country
It is very annoying that Germany, Italy, France and the UK all have a much greater GDP than Russia and they all spend less on defense. I am too lazy to do the math but a quick look at the numbers shows that the United States spends more on defense than the other 29 nations of NATO combined. They are worthless allies.
Germany, once on the front line opposing Russia and with the largest GDP in Europe, is ranked 16th in military preparedness... behind Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, IRAN, and Indonesia. www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php
China recently surpassed Russia and is now regarded as the second most powerful military. China is superior to the US in ground forces and artillery, which will be advantageous in a war with Russia or India but are no great threat to the US. China’s rapidly evolving Navy could defeat the US in a conflict near the Chinese mainland (for example in an assault on Taiwan). That said, China is no match for the US Navy globally.
- Sidebar - It is my opinion that China has no current desire to surpass the US Navy. China relies on global trade more than any other country and they save Billion$$ with the US being the police-of-the-seas.
Although Russia is still regarded as the third most powerful military, their economy is only 1/14th the size of ours and only 1/10 the size of China’s. Russia literally cannot afford to be a major military power though they are surrounded by potential adversaries.
- Sidebar - The UK (once the mightiest empire on Terra) doesn't even deserve to be on this chart. But a Brit made the chart so there they are.
But What About Ukraine?
If Russia is so weak compared to the United States how are they able to invade Ukraine?
Well, I'm glad you asked. Ukraine is much smaller than Russia both economically and militarily. The Russians can attack Ukraine just as Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939... while the European powers watched. History repeats itself.
publicorthodoxy.org/2022/02/23/hitler-and-putin/
extravaganzafreetour.com/hitlers-invasion-of-czechoslovakia-15-march-1939/
Don't PANIC!
In spite of all the bad news, which is intended to grind you into submission, America is NOT DONE.
America is still a land of extraordinary abundance and opportunity.
We continue to enjoy the world's most powerful and innovative economy and posses the world's most advanced and well-equipped military. We are blessed with abundant cropland and vast forests. We have substantial natural resources and reserves of natural gas.
The only scarcity we suffer from is scarcity of Leadership.
Natural Abundance
The lower 48 states alone consist of roughly 1.9 Billion acres of land (which is about 6 acres per person). Let's take a quick look at land use in the lower 48 states. It will convince you that the current gloom is being created by our 'leaders".
- Sidebar - Other sites show different categories of land use (for example, Visual Capitalist separates wetlands for some political reason) The following chart shows the official categories from the USDA.
Forest and Wilderness
The United States has about 540 Million acres of forest, and an additional 100 Million acres of National Parks, State Parks and designated wilderness areas that are not available for logging. Amazingly, forest land in America has been increasing for decades.
Cropland
There are about 391 Million acres of cropland outlined in the following graphic. Note that only half is devoted to the food WE eat and livestock. That is truly amazing...American farms are so productive that we only require about 3/4 acre per person to feed our population (however, this does not count seafood).
Sadly, more than 1/3 of the entire corn crop is wasted on producing ethanol fuel, a "carbon neutral" concession to Climate Hysterians (and a pork barrel for farmers). In 2020, the United States used 5 Billion bushels of corn for such endeavors. That could feed a huge number of people (or produce lots of Kentucky Bourbon)! Click the Pic to see how much corn is wasted on ethanol each year.
The United States has about 540 Million acres of forest, and an additional 100 Million acres of National Parks, State Parks and designated wilderness areas that are not available for logging. Amazingly, forest land in America has been increasing for decades.
Cropland
There are about 391 Million acres of cropland outlined in the following graphic. Note that only half is devoted to the food WE eat and livestock. That is truly amazing...American farms are so productive that we only require about 3/4 acre per person to feed our population (however, this does not count seafood).
Sadly, more than 1/3 of the entire corn crop is wasted on producing ethanol fuel, a "carbon neutral" concession to Climate Hysterians (and a pork barrel for farmers). In 2020, the United States used 5 Billion bushels of corn for such endeavors. That could feed a huge number of people (or produce lots of Kentucky Bourbon)! Click the Pic to see how much corn is wasted on ethanol each year.
Wasted Food
It is estimated that about 30-40% of the food in America is wasted. We threw away 130 BILLION pounds of food in 2010... enough to feed 100 million people. www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-loss-and-waste
Conclusion
In spite of all the fear, anxiety and divisiveness cultivated by our "leaders", America is strong and enjoys abundance. We are well fed (generally overweight), with cheap food to the point people don't appreciate what they have.
We are capable of being energy independent. As the Work-From-Home movement accelerates, we will use even less fuel and our vehicles will last longer. We could enjoy more free time and disposable income if inflation and increased taxes weren't consuming every gain.
The current (self-inflicted) shortages of fertilizer and the war in Ukraine will drive up food prices... but no one in America needs to go hungry. No one in rural America will be compelled to eat bug burger (though I'm sure that Progressive Urban Socialists will be happy to pay a premium to eat maggots to show their moral superiority).
DON'T PANIC and don't eat bugs.
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