The Current State of America

The United States of America has over the past decades enjoyed its stay at the top, as the super power with a thriving economy, advanced scientific and military systems and also the best modes of transport, and communication systems. Nonetheless, over the past few years America has been forced to sit back and watch as other countries thrive economically, scientifically, and also in the field of technology. America has been involved in different activities all over the world, which have consequently become a burden limiting the country from focusing on its own affairs. This move has seen other countries focusing more on their affairs, hence flourishing their economies. It is for that reason that this paper will agree in support of authors’ assessment of the U.S, and also provide a solution to this problem.

The U.S is majorly focused on the affairs of other countries, rather than its own affairs, a move which has seen other countries outsmarting the it economically. For instance, the U.S has waged war against terrorists, and has increasingly been sending troops to the countries such as Afghanistan to aid in combating terrorism. In as much as this is a good deed, the country seems to be spending its time and resources on other matters concerning war, while the country’s economy is at a halt. Countries such as China, have been focused on growing their economies, a move which has seen China’s economy growing exponentially. In addition, China and India have also focused on improving of their education systems, a move which has resulted in the mass production of engineers (Zakaria, 30). As a matter of fact, the U.S currently relies on immigrants for technological advancements, with foreign students acquiring three quarters of PhD’s in the U.S.

The U.S is currently relying on immigrants for technological support, with most engineers coming from China. This basically shows the U.S is currently asleep since it cannot depend on its population, hence technocrats must be outsourced from other countries. Similarly, immigration policies in the country have become the driving factor of U.S economic success and not its education system. The education system in the country seems to be less reliable in the sense that the country is not able to produce enough engineers, while most immigrant students tend to outperform native U.S students. As Zakaria states, the U.S should only focus more on its problems rather than competing with other countries (Zakaria, 42). America’s focus has been on competing with other countries, a move which has prompted it to focus on outsourcing readymade technocrats in order to help the country remain at the top of the game. In so doing, the country has shifted its attention on the education system, and instead focused on bringing in people who may be of help. In other words, the U.S is not interested in growing engineers, but it looks for ways of seeking the best from other countries, a move which leaves the country at the mercy of immigrants and the immigration policies. In the event that the immigration policies change and all the immigrants are forced to go back to their countries, the U.S economy will crumble. This is so because the success of the U.S economy is dependent on the immigrants. 

            On the other hand, the laws which the U.S government makes, seem to affect those in need instead of being of help to them. In ‘Plata O Plomo’ by Javdani, the U.S government is providing aid to the Columbia to stop the drug problem. In as much as this is a positive gesture, it does help the country in any way (Javdani, 449). Owing to the fact that drug lords are forcing Coca farmers to cultivate coca which is the main ingredient in the production of cocaine and heroin or risk losing their lives. The term ‘Plata O plomo’ translates to silver or lead, which basically means you accept money which is silver or a bullet which is lead (Javdani, 449). In such a situation, farmers are forced to choose silver, in order to save their lives and that of their families. Instead of focusing on means of destroying the drug market, the U.S has opted to support Columbia in abolishing the cultivation of Coca. In the same way, the U.S seems to be putting the lives of the innocent farmers at risk, instead of channelling the money into other sectors such as the education sector. Channelling the money into the Columbian education sector would help in educating Columbians against the abuse of drugs, and also aid in the creation of job opportunities. Henceforth making the youths to shift their minds from working for drug lords and instead focus on improving their lives and that of their parents. In addition, the U.S government should also educate its own students against the abuse of drugs, a move which will reduce demand of cocaine and heroin thus saving the lives of Columbian farmers.

            Finally, the bills passed in the House tend to focus only on the U.S as a country, and not on the outcome of the bill. For instance, the U.S passed a bill which could not allow the importation of goods from manufacturing works where child labour was used. According to the House, the bill aimed at stopping child labour. The Bill would eventually see millions of children working in factories being laid off (Divakaruni n.p). This brings about the question of whether such children would be able to cater for their needs after losing their jobs. These children were forced into child labour due to poverty, a move which compelled their parents to sell them to factories. Abolishing child labour would consequently mean such children would go hungry and even starve to death due to lack of finance. The House could have thought of the effects of the bill on third world countries, before being passed. Passing stringent laws as if they worked in the U.S setting was not good at all.

            Nevertheless, the U.S government could change this problem, through offering assistance to third world countries, particularly in the field of education. In so doing, these children would go back to school. In addition, the U.S should also offer food aid to such countries, hence eradicating child labour all over the world while at the same time improving the education system in third world countries. On the other hand, in order for the U.S to remain at the top, it would need to focus more on its education system thus being able to produce engineers and technocrats. In addition, the country should also be ready to join the world in focusing on their own affairs hence improving its own economy.

Work Cited

Zakaria, Fareed. “The Future of American Power: How America Can Survive the Rise of the Rest.” Foreign Affairs, vol. 87, no. 3, 2008, pp. 18–43. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20032649. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.

Javdani, Marie. Plata O Plomo. In Slide share. 2017. Pp. 448-451 Retrieved from: https://www.slideshare.net/MarieJavdani1/plata-o-plomo

Divakaruni, Chitara. Live Free and Starve. Gavilian. 2005. Retrieved from. http://hhh.gavilan.edu/ecrook/1A.fall.2005/1A.Divakaruni.html