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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#120626: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:49:32 PM

[up][up][up] Hyperpower just sounds stupid, and there is always the chance the US sometime in the future could lose it's status and somebody else will take the Superpower crown, especially if they keep on getting politicians like Trump. It happened to the UK, who were the top power in the world and controlled most of the world for hundreds of years until the beginning of the Cold War, so no country is completely safe from it.

edited 30th Apr '16 6:24:51 PM by Bat178

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#120627: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:50:20 PM

The UK lost a lot of power because the colonies under its control won their freedom. That sort of thing won't happen to the US.

Falrinn Since: Dec, 2014
#120628: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:51:28 PM

[up]x4

Yeah, if someone is using present tense (ie "The United States is the only Superpower") then they are only making a statement about the current status of the world. What went on in the past is a point aside.

As for the future, anything can happen in the long enough term. I think the most likely scenario under which the USA loses it's superpower status will be the result of other nations becoming stronger faster than us over the course of several decades rather then any specific catastrophic event.

edited 30th Apr '16 5:56:17 PM by Falrinn

Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#120629: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:55:45 PM

Hyper-Mega-Super-Ultra Power

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#120630: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:56:39 PM

[up][up][up] It was also in part the even omit damage done by the world wars, both the UK and France were pretty wrecked. Plus Russia managed to drop from a superpower to being a global power and the territory it lost wasn't that key.

edited 30th Apr '16 5:57:23 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#120631: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:57:58 PM

[up] I already mentioned that and the colonies separating in the previous page. Anyways, if the US does lose it's Superpower status sometime in the future, it'll probably be because of the incompetence of it's politicians.

edited 30th Apr '16 6:18:15 PM by Bat178

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#120632: Apr 30th 2016 at 5:59:40 PM

Batman has no superpowers. Superman has superpowers out the wazoo, often with new ones as the plot demands.

Sorry, couldn't resist.tongue

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#120633: Apr 30th 2016 at 6:12:37 PM

and there is always the chance the US sometime in the future could lose it's status

If the term hyperpower was ever accurate, it definitely isn't today. The US is still a superpower but it is no longer the only relevant power, as shown by Russia and China defying the international order with impunity.

edited 30th Apr '16 6:13:18 PM by storyyeller

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
tricksterson Never Trust from Behind you with an icepick Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Never Trust
#120634: Apr 30th 2016 at 6:59:47 PM

I would say that the US was briefly the superpower from the fall of the Soviet Union until it's stumble into Iraq. Thank you, Dubya!

Trump delenda est
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#120635: Apr 30th 2016 at 7:07:47 PM

Obama has started and he's not pissing about, last dinner ever, end of the republic, CPT, Goldman Sache.

Edit: And here we start with the Trump jokes, after a Clinton inevitability joke, oh and we've got an old callback, Obama counting down the days to his death panel.

Edit: "I want to give my thanks to Joe Biden for not shooting anybody in the face" XD

edited 30th Apr '16 7:16:46 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#120636: Apr 30th 2016 at 7:33:11 PM

Hyper-Mega-Super-Ultra Power

Maximum-Over Power. tongue

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
desdendelle Hooded Crow from Land of Milk and Honey (Sergeant) Relationship Status: Hiding
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#120638: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:16:10 PM

Holy shit. Wilmore was hit or miss.

But to actually have the balls to keep it 100?

Jesus.

That whole room was uncomfortable with the level of savagery.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#120639: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:17:30 PM

I just went on a trip to New York City, and one of the places I visited was the Museum of Natural History. It was full of Theodore Roosevelt quotes and, holy crap, the Republican party clearly bears no resemblance to the party when he was around.

Also, everyone was making fun of Trump. I saw someone egging Trump Tower as well.

edited 30th Apr '16 8:18:04 PM by Zendervai

TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#120640: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:39:41 PM

In fairness, Roosevelt was something of a misfit in his party even back then. They effectively tried to Kick him Upstairs by naming him Vice-President to get him and his trouble making self of the way, despite a prophetic warning that they might regret that.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#120641: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:41:59 PM

[up][up][up] What did he say?

In regards to the US's power status, I say we were a hyper power from the collapse of the Soviet Union and it's empire until the 2008 economic crisis. Oh and I know you guys won't want to hear this, one of the reasons Britain stopped being a great power was it's decision to build a gigantic welfare state around the same time as they were berried up to their eyeballs in debt from both world wars, and of course the country was bombed to bits. I must say it is impressive just how much shit had to be piled on the Brits to reduce them to a mid level power globally. Just one of these challenges would probably see the US sent back to isolationism.

edited 30th Apr '16 8:42:15 PM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#120642: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:43:20 PM

I can never really get a read on your views Jack.

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#120643: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:44:13 PM

[up] I can't ether.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#120644: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:53:43 PM

WHCD was great. Obama earned that mic drop.

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#120645: Apr 30th 2016 at 8:56:28 PM

[up][up][up][up] Same goes for France, who, while not quite as strong as the UK use to be, were also a great power before the World Wars.

edited 30th Apr '16 9:02:02 PM by Bat178

flameboy21th The would-be novelist from California Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
The would-be novelist
#120646: Apr 30th 2016 at 9:28:19 PM

All this talk about super/hyper/great powers makes everyone sound like Power Rangers upgrades.

edited 30th Apr '16 9:28:32 PM by flameboy21th

Non Indicative Username
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#120647: Apr 30th 2016 at 9:32:15 PM

Being a superpower is your ability to assert yourself outside your territory. In my calculation, Spain stopped being one after its defeat in the 30 Years War, which stopped their ambitions and began the long decline, even though they basically still ruled two continents at the time, their ability to threaten beyond their territory had become diminished.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#120648: Apr 30th 2016 at 9:51:47 PM

Seconding the question about what was said at the White House Dinner.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#120649: Apr 30th 2016 at 10:07:33 PM

Obama on life after White House

"If this material works well, I'm gonna use it at Goldman Sachs next year. Earn me some serious Tubmans."
On being Late

"I do apologize, I know I was a little late tonight. I was running on CPT — which stands for jokes that white people should not make."

On Who will do the dinner next year

"Next year at this time, someone else will be standing here in this very spot. And it's anyone's guess who she will be."

On Sanders distancing himself from him

"I am a little hurt that you're distancing yourself from me, Bernie. That's not something you do to your comrade
On his approval rating
In my final year, my approval ratings keep going up. The last time I was this high, I was trying to decide on my major."

And Larry Wilmore's last line.

I'm going to keep it 100, Barry. You did it my Nigga

New Survey coming this weekend!
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#120650: Apr 30th 2016 at 10:12:51 PM

[up] The people approving him obviously don't know about the TPP and what it will do to the internet, and that Obama plans on trying to pass it right before he leaves.

edited 30th Apr '16 10:13:09 PM by Bat178


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