As bad as the United States is as a place for investment given our current financial condition, it is still a whole lot better than what is going on in Europe.
The Europeans still believe America is the most stable country in the world, but they should take a few moments to consider just what might be waiting just around the corner if Mr. Obama gets another term. Our economy is moving forward but is straining it's capacity with what workers it has now.
Industry has no plans to hire more works if it can push the ones that they have as hard as they can to achieve their future goals. And the workers know this and say nothing as they are aware of the thin line between having food on the table and staying warm in the winter against freezing in an unemployment line.
This is great news just the same on the investment front, but I must take the author to task on his stance that Republicans are against immigration. This is entirely untrue. What Republicans want is legal immigration, not the free-for-all that is taking place on our boarder now. To ignore this is as a problem, we do so at our own peril.
This Is America's Moment, If Washington Doesn't Blow It
Source: Joel Kotkin, "This Is America's Moment, If Washington Doesn't Blow It," New Geography, January 19, 2012.
The vast majority of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, and, according to a 2011 Pew Survey, close to a majority feel that China has already surpassed the United States as an economic power. However, these views ignore some of the greatest components of America's economic, political and social success that will continue or increase in importance in the near future, says Joel Kotkin, executive editor of NewGeography.com.
In energy resources, America finds itself in one of the best positions it has ever known: increased technology and new discoveries have made it the world's largest producer of natural gas, and it could emerge as the leading oil producer by 2017.
The U.S. agricultural sector is also booming, with exports reaching a record $135.5 billion in 2011, and food prices are projected to continue to increase.
In manufacturing, while China has been plagued with rumors of worker unrest (making investors uneasy) and Japan, Germany and Brazil have scaled back production, U.S. manufacturers have expanded their payrolls for two straight years.
These are advantages that America is rapidly exploiting, yet they are only a small manifestation of America's thriving economy. This can be seen in the demographic and competitive fundamentals of the economy, which remain strong and portend future growth.
America is one of the most competitive economies in the world, with foreign investment in the United States rising 49 percent in 2010, while overall investment in the European Union dropped 36 percent in 2009.
In information, America's domination appears invulnerable, with more than two-thirds of the world's 500 largest software companies and nine of the top 10 located in its borders.
In terms of demographics, America's population growth has remained relatively stable, thereby sidestepping the issues involved in having a large elderly population that Germany and Japan will encounter.
In order to capitalize on these fundamental boons, both political parties will need to amend their policies and belief systems. Democrats will need to realize the damaging effects of higher income taxes on entrepreneurialism and free markets. They must also embrace America's natural advantage in fossil fuels.
Republicans, on the other hand, will need to surrender their vendetta against immigrants, who diversify America's pool of skills, and bow to infrastructure needs.
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