China is facing a debt crisis that makes the US debt look like nothing along with a very rapidly aging population, one of the fastest aging in the world, despite not having reached the level of development of similarly aged populations. China's population likely has already started to decline.

We don't need to worry about China, they'll handle ending themselves themselves.

I really hope so. They've been making inroads throughout the world. If there's one thing I've learned it's never underestimate the CCP.

The U.S. is less politically polarized than either the late 1960s or (especially) the 1860s.

The national debt is far lower, as a percentage of GDP, than in the 1950s.

U.S. GDP grew at 3.2% annualized rate in the most recent quarter, negating fears of a recession.

When I worry for the future of the U.S., it is mostly because I see so many Americans willing to confidently assert untrue things.

We can argue all day about polarization but it's very apparent. We had 2 straight quarters of negative gdp growth and 2023 isn't looking good. I hope you're right and things look up. The last part of your comment is completely unacceptable. You're calling me a fear monger in so many words. Great way to make intelligent conversation.

The US gdp grew in q3 more than it lost the previous 2 quarters and while the numbers aren’t out yet it likely will grow in q4. On the whole 2022 will go down as a positive gdp year so if there was a recession it was a very light one and it’s over already.

The forecast for 2023 isn't looking good but I hope you're right.

Current consensus is putting gdp at a low growth (0.5%) for 2023. Not a great economic outlook but certainly a lot better than 2020.

You demonstrate the strength of the west… China wants you to believe it’s inevitable that it will lead the world, and the lack of criticism indicates a lack of weakness (creating an incentive to silence critics). Versus the west: the welcome criticism helps identify and prioritize weaknesses that can be addressed in the future, helping to insure the dominance of the west.

You should be worried… without out it we will fail to address our failures and accelerate our loss of influence.