Straight Toward the Abyss

The situation in the land of opportunity is precarious. U.S. President Obama and the whole country are lost in debt. It is unclear whether the NSA can help the U.S.A. out of this mess.

Eavesdropping operation? What a nasty way to describe it. U.S. intelligence agencies are simply keeping their eyes and ears open to see what their best friends are up to, since the situation in the land of opportunity is quite precarious at the moment. This year, the U.S.A. will lose its position as the country with the planet's strongest national economy to China — a country that isn't famous for its democratic structures and exemplary environmental politics. However, the people are eager to learn, and quickly at that.

Angela Merkel brought this important realization with her from Asia as early as the mid-90s, when she was still minister of the environment for the Federal Republic of Germany. Back then, Asian countries were launching ambitious education programs. The four Asian Tigers, aspiring in all sectors of technology, were in need of creative and excellently trained people. Today, they have them.

As of yet, the U.S. economy is doing fairly well. On paper. Essential branches of production have been outsourced to China, however. This is where almost half a million people build iPhones, laptops, PlayStations and other well-known electronic devices, increasing profit for prestigious U.S. companies. However, it is a flash in the pan for Chinese migrant workers. At the same time, the U.S. middle class is sinking deeper and deeper into poverty. Bridges, streets and schools are crumbling away. It's not looking too good beyond the illusion of wealth. Every minor storm delivers TV scenes that are reminiscent of third-world countries. German electricians are shocked at the way technicians repair broken power lines. Nice houses sit in landscapes like empty cardboard boxes. Here today, gone tomorrow. However, this short-sighted attitude will have consequences.

China Holds US Government Bonds Worth $1.3 Billion

Those who produce the way the Asians do quickly learn to place even better products on the market. West Germany has already gone through this bitter experience. In the '60s, the country's economy was dominated by pure arrogance. Our electronics, our chemical industry, our cameras and our pharmaceuticals were first rate. Tip-top. Japanese cars? Pathetic. Not to mention the cheap transistor radios — and shortly after that, everything changed.

However, Germany managed to avoid collapse through smart investments in research. With Merkel's inauguration came further investments in science and research. To this day, this has contributed a great deal to economic recovery. In the effort to continue the pacts for universities, excellence, research and innovation, state and federal governments are currently impeding each other once again, but they will surely come to an agreement.

The U.S. government doesn't have these structural possibilities. Over there, conservative politicians pray the mantra of a state that should stay out of everything, so that the market can be given free hand. That's right, unfortunately. The U.S. market is wide open for cheap imports. It's safe to say that there are no controls regarding security and customs. China is America's biggest creditor. It has purchased U.S. government bonds worth $1.3 billion. Obama and the whole country are lost in debt.

Dear NSA spies: Reveal your great discoveries. Give yesterday's conservative politicians and economic leaders an earful of today's frustrations. Explain to them that they are leading the country straight toward the abyss.