1. Tryzon ValenciaHistory 141 Michael Arguello <br />The Next Hundred Million And The Second World<br />Because of escalating prices of petroleum, food, housing, and services, so many Americans and its leaders these days are not only feeling increasingly anxious about many aspects of daily life, but are also struggling to maintain their country’s preeminence in the world. It is no wonder that many ponder that the United States, like the Roman and British Empires, is destined to fall. Some are so convinced that the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, two very successful American businessmen, continue to shift their own assets to China, India, and other rising countries. <br /> In his book, “The Next Hundred Million, America in 2050’, Joel Kotkin claim that a profoundly disturbed economy, the threat of environmental disaster, the rise of lethal terrorist organization, multiple foreign wars, and pervasive political corruption; and more importantly, the country’s expanding population, one hundred million more by the year 2050. The United States, after all, continues to boasts the highest fertility rate than Russia, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Italy, Korea and virtually all of eastern Europe that by the year 2050 there will be another more than four hundred million Americans. <br />Kotkin, however, claim that “the rise in American population is actually the strongest indicator of its long-term economic strength, and will make Americas more diverse and more competitive than any nation on earth, and that by midcentury USA will emerge as the most affluent, culturally rich, and successful nation in human history, in spite of the country’s current problems. And though a hundred million more American will certainly reshape the country’s geography, for new communities will have to be built, Kotkin claim that this is a growth that is beneficial, for those once desolate cities, including the American Heartland – the vast sparsely populated regions that constitute the vast majority of the U.S. landmass, because it will give rise to new environmentally friendly technologies and infrastructure. Furthermore, he claim that “the country’s unique and fundamental assets - its deep –seated spirit of ingenuity, its robust demographics (including a resourceful stream of ever-assimilating immigrants), and the world’s largest, most productive expanse of arable land” will enable its people to maintain their country’s preeminence in the world. The country’s ability to adjust to economic challenges, like in the current housing collapse that created many problems for the financial system and for families will be overcome. And although the vast majority of America’s net population growth will be in its racial minorities, particularly Asians, Hispanics as well as in a growing mixed-race population, the growing population, especially in advanced countries like the United States, offers the hope of expanding market, new workers, and entrepreneurial innovations while a rapidly aging or decreasing population, like China will have very little to offer, both socially and economically. <br />While Kotkin’s strategies in dealing with America’s future focus domestically, Parag Khanna’s strategies focus internationally. Parag Khanna is one of Esquire’s 75 Most Influential People of the Twenty-first century and author of the book, “The Second World, How Emerging Powers Are Redefining Global Competition in the Twenty-first Century”. Like Kotkin, Parag offers an optimistic view and talks about five specific steps that not only echoes and enhances Kotkin’s recommendations, but also for a bolder, more coherent, and more effective strategy in managing American problems. <br />First is for Americans and its leaders to think, speak, and act for global interests and values rather than just American ones, for in the twenty-first century, all issues are interconnected through globalization – the process by which regional economies, societies and cultures have become integrated through communication, transportation and trade. <br />Second is “to drastically ramp-up – even “Pentagonize” – America’s diplomatic activity by enhancing the powers of regional assistant secretaries and adding ambassadors to key regional institutions to help coordinate among themselves on issues from poverty reduction to counterterrorism.” <br />Third is to boost diplomacy not only through governmental channels, but through diplomatic-industrial complex as well, so that even if the U.S. Congress is unable to provide funding and knowhow necessary to stimulate stable emerging market, Wall Street can do so, for they are increasingly willing to invest money, materials, and manpower to open stable markets. <br />Fourth is to get our fiscal house in order and to avoid ‘protectionist reflexes” to attract foreign investments and wealth that could help to renew America’s crumbling infrastructure and foster innovations. Khanna also like this strategy apply to domestic investments, for the global economies, like that of Persian Gulf, Russia, and especially China are booming and simply do not need American investments from the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and other business entities. <br />Finally, Khanna claim that the United States must pursue a G-3 or partnership with the European Union and China since these three superpowers can effectively address global challenges, such as, stabilizing oil price, reducing greenhouse gas emissions without slowing growth, reducing poverty, and intervening constructively in failing states. Furthermore, they can effectively sanction those who do not play by the rules.<br /> Kotkin, Khanna books are excellent pieces of reading materials, especially for students of history. Assigning the daunting tasks of preparing the country for future Americans and in maintaining its preeminence in the world not just to a single leader but to the individual, family, and communities was most interesting. Certainly they that must remain committed in securing the future, for the greatest danger to United States preeminence today and the future is to take the notion of inevitable decline to heart, for in the process lose the motivation to meet the coming challenges.<br />