America is Not Dead!

I write today after reading and spending some time contemplating a piece by brilliant economist Paul Krugman in the New York Times last week.

For anybody that is not aware, Krugman is an American economist and commentator and the Professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University. He won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2008 for a pair of new economic thought models, whereby he attempted to explain with some success patterns of international trade and the geographic concentration of wealth by examining the impact of economies of scale and consumer preferences for diverse goods and services. In summary Krugman is one of the world’s most respected economists.

Krugman’s article which I refer to above is about the future of the United States as an independent and sustainable sovereign nation. He cuts no bones about his thoughts and calls a spade a spade right from the opening salvo:

“We’ve always known that America’s reign as the world’s greatest nation would eventually end. But most of us imagined that our downfall, when it came, would be something grand and tragic.”

His point of view is so fierce that he likens the decline of the United States more to that of Poland than to that of Rome:

“Instead of re-enacting the decline and fall of Rome, we’re re-enacting the dissolution of 18th-century Poland.”

To be the fair the gist of Krugman’s article is to highlight the apparent lack of political efficiency that Republican senators are creating by “vetoing” various Democrat votes. He uses the example of the appointment of Martha Johnson as Head of the General Service Administration which was put “on hold” by Senator Christopher Bond of Missouri (who happens to be Republican).

While I understand the viewpoints of Mr. Krugman and his frustration with the political situation and illusory embargo the G.O.P. is putting on government efficiency, his article made me sit back and look at the bigger picture of the US as a whole and the future of this country.

There is currently a lot of negative sentiment against the US revolving mainly around the unsustainable fiscal deficit that exists and the weakening and seemingly eroding purchasing power of the US dollar. The outlook for increased government debt and debt costs is putting paid to many theories of recovery and ideals that people will, one day, be back in jobs. The rise of China and their mammoth trillion dollars reserves is also posing a grave threat to the dominance of the United States in the world economy.

Well-known author John Mauldin, in one of his weekly letters recently, predicted a domino effect of sovereign debt beginning with a Greek default and proceeding all the way to a default by the United States.

I think it’s important to add a little bit of context to this debate. In my mind, the US is not dead. China is a country that has been in a formalized existence for more than 5000 years, and is only now beginning to challenge the United States. The US, on the other hand, was born just 234 years ago. This country is just starting, and we ain’t seen nothing yet!

I am totally aware of the problems the US faces and the risks of default and declining economic power of the nation. However, I’m totally confident that in the next 100 years the United States will still be the dominant economic power in the world, with the highest standards of living and the greatest value add to the world economy.

Warren Buffett recently made the biggest acquisition of his career in railroads, when he bought Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Why railroads? “It’s an all-in bet on the future of the US economy”, said Buffett. And given the great man’s prowess, I see no reason to jump on the bandwagon, disagree and declare, “America Is Dead”!

For a follow up article, read America is Not Dead: Part II