This is a good article, if a little overly upbeat. It attempts to appease the uneasiness that many American’s may feel towards current trends in globalization, by pointing out they are inherently benign, and that global shifts have an historical inevitability. However, to overlook potential friction, especially when world resources are under pressure, seems to me a little foolhardy. The article pulls no punches when it comes to America’s greatest weaknesses; parochial attitudes that shape foreign policy, and an easily bruised national ego. The Iraq war was a mistake, and many of the symbols of American success and dominance have been overshadowed by the new kids on the block. The author seems to be saying that these sentiments are misplaced in a truly global economy, and that by focusing on its inherent strengths (multi-cultural population and high tech industries), the US will cure itself of it’s current gloom.
