I am greatly amused by the way we have
managed to convince ourselves that we are well on the way to
becoming a global superpower. Of course one has been hearing this
refrain from various foreign media sources and visiting Heads of
State - the latest addition to the list being Hillary Clinton, as
she swings through our country.
What does it take to become a super power:
billions of dollars in reserve, double digit GDP growth? A strong
Navy, an impressive missile defense system, backed up by a credible
second strike capability? A military- industrial combine that has
the potential to cater to our ever growing defense needs and also
adequate spare capacity to capture the arms export market? Or,
perhaps, a workable health and social security system that will
scale up in the years to come, despite a doubling of
population?
It takes a lot to keep from being discouraged because it takes all of the above and some more to become a world power. Thing is, world powers are recognized as such only if their 'state of being' is of a certain standard and, it is here that we falter. Take a look at how our Nation goes about its own business before we take a call on whether we have the right stuff to lead the world - after all that is what is expected of any reigning super power. The list is just suggestive of the malaise - a pointer - and by no means, is it exhaustive.
An embarrassingl
