Joel Kotkin: Why America Will Still Lead the World in 2050

[BeviGames]

America dosen't lead the planet you just think you do.

[spark300c]

u.s can great agine. things are changing the neocons are be seen as false conservatives a lot because the were for cony capitalism instead for the free market. All I have say I been Texas since 2006 and we are a mild conservative state.

[98bigbutt]

Appalaichian music blends with Latin music? That I need to hear.

[98bigbutt]

That environmental problem by 2050 is total bullshit.

[98bigbutt]

Maybe if America fix the economy right now,America could remain to the top.

[cowlateral158]

It's awesome to hear someone speak out against the conventional groupthink. I live in Canada and despite our large geography and relatively small population, we pay extremely high costs for housing because of "urban planning". Cities located in the middle of nowhere are worried about urban sprawl, and in turn limit development and housing stock, which leads to unnaffordable prices for middle class citizens.

[acekiller121]

@cowlateral158 i completely agree with you

[crawfTEC]

and since when has america ruled. just because u have a rediculous huge population of fat people and speak our language english it has given u a huge advantage over the years

[VMATT500C]

So again, carbon. Think China is worried about CARBON? LOL

[Lordmaster36]

America isn't so much declining as the rest of the world is catching up.

At this moment there is no one country on the face of the Earth that, bar extreme incompetence on the part of the USA, could defeat it in a war, not China, not Russia, not even the whole EU. We're going to see that change in the future as more countries start flexing their proverbial muscles but in our generation's lifetime we're really damn unlikely to see America be anything less than a superpower.

[andrewada]

This is a nicely done interview. He is clearly anti "smart growth" - me too.

You can google "building utopia" and "smart growth" for a more detailed view of this shocking planning trend.

[BrandonBlaze904]

the Chinese economy is going to rape world and make everyone pay $25 for nice haircut

[BrandonBlaze904]

the Chinese economy is going to rape world and make everyone pay 25$ for nice haircut

[9N8X]

America will grow and grow and shall never be defeated.

Unless one of our presidents pulls a hitler on us.

[uluvmyballs]

i like his jew fro

[kentmcmanigal]

Of course, government can't "own" any property since it possesses nothing it did not steal or "buy" with stolen money. A thief does not "own" the stolen loot he possesses and he has no legitimate say in how it is used.

[Saturnous]

@kentmcmanigal : Read Karl Marx .. in case people get smarter and elect a new kind of political class they could take property. A smart society would learn that uncontrolled capitalism drive always in a dead end which ends with a giant crisis. A smart society would rejects John Lockes concept of property and would define all limited resources as taxable common property. Capitalism is a powerful concept when accumulation of limited resources are prevented.

[duanescot]

Well the guy is dead on about the clusterfuck that IS government control, why not incent people and companies to work from home, end affirmative action nonsense, hire people based on merit, not race or gender. etc...

[Timasion]

He makes good observations. Most of the world is hierarchical; you have a position and you stay at that spot. It is difficult to improve your station.

The United States was never based on that. People of humble birth can become President (Reagan, Clinton, Obama).

The problem is that many liberals want us to imitate the other nations. That's why they want the federal government to take care of everything. People become reliant on the Federal government and have difficulty improving.

[Nonoyawns]

Wow, fantastic interview, I'll definitely check out the book.

[MyRepresentativeOrg]

What fee do you pay to work at home??

[Saturnous]

If the "World" stop the Intellectual Property Neofeudalism the US will fail - Asia will arise over America and Europe very soon. There is nothing to care about Immigration - why US people care so much about illegal immigrants - they still spent their money back to the economy. The "big" capitalists are bleeding out you by investing their money oversea.

[uluvmyballs]

@Saturnous

Your an idiot. For the chinese economy to even match the size of the US it would have to grow at 20% for the next 30 years, and the US economy would have to shrink 20% for the next 5.

[Saturnous]

@uluvmyballs : Did you took here the "pure" workforce + agriculture + mining of natural ressources in relation ? In case all patents will loose protection the US$ will fell and China will stop under-steering his currency a Chinese worker will have the same income as a American or a European (economy grow by 1000%) - and they will spend it.

In the moment the patents are in the West and make most of the value of every product - a iPad cost 80 US$ - but "blow up" the US economy with 350US$.

[uluvmyballs]

@Saturnous the chinese economy is not growing at 1000%

[Saturnous]

@uluvmyballs : How did you calculate the "size" of a economy ?

You use $ to measure it and you do it the same way as this "smart" economic expert which have a "religious" belief in their own concept of economy ? Their system is designed to fail - Karl Marx knew it - the Chinese know it. The "US" belief that the world keep playing their game - but what when the rest of the world change the rules ? If they stop IP Neofeudalism ? The US will fall - the pure workforce economies will arise.

[Saturnous]

@uluvmyballs: In the last time 1998 - 2008 the Indian and the Chinese economy had grow rates of arround 10% means 1,1^10 = 259% - the US arround 32% in the same time. Paid was this by the US consumers - the Chinese gave giant credits to the US state - they blown up their property market. China own the balls of the US - now they focus on Europe, clearly visible as they now speculate on the Euro with their US$ - slowly the buy Euros and oil options with their resserves, slowly search new markets.

[uluvmyballs]

@Saturnous the US around 32%?? are you daft?? america was declining in 2006-2008.

With the recovering economy america will never fall

[Saturnous]

@uluvmyballs : I asked Wolfram Alpha for average US economy grow 1998-2008 -> 3,12. Anyways - this are only "bullshit" values without any true substance behind. In the end every time in the US a machine stopped to produce and started producing in China 2 stories were created : "Shareholder applauded - stock price grew - toxic money." - "People lost their jobs, credits lost real coverage and more dept was created - toxic money." What do you think will happen when anyone will ignore patents ?

[sedatedlife18]

There's a fine line between optimism and false hope.

[Xenthoid]

@sedatedlife18

agreed.. with the rise of other nations not just China and India, but russia, brazil, south africa to name a few, and the declines here, it wont take all that much for the US to lose its status. I think by 2050 we would see a multipolar world...

[ZombieX13]

Contemptuous... great word

[drchiodo]

This video made me subscribe. He's technically correct on known demographic trends. Nice to hear something positive.

[The4ppleseed]

this vid made me unsubscribe

[ThadiusSLove]

@The4ppleseed Why?

[Xenthoid]

@The4ppleseed lol

[samuils]

The problem isnt Immigration, but illegal immigration. No one is saying anything about legal immigration, so please phrase it right, as its a world of difference

[phantomsuccour]

@samuils lol, you clearly have not seen enough conservative blogs against immigration that are particularly tinged against brown people.

[samuils]

@phantomsuccour If you mean the fringes, I dont belong to those fringes nor do I support them.  If you are talking about the fact that most of illegals come across the southern borders, well thats called a fact, which has nothing to do with anyone being against immigration, but once again being against illegal immigration.

[98bigbutt]

@samuils,The problem is people like you have a problem with illegal immigration because you're racist against brown people. I like how you say you don't have with immigration but illegal immigration. That's like saying that a racist white person says they've a black friend to make themselves look good.

[samuils]

@98bigbutt First, illegal immigrant is not a race genius. Secondly, it is indeed people like you who spit at the law. I had to wait 6 years before I immigrated here freaking legally, and I expect for other to respect the law and not diminish the citizenship. And Illegal immigrant is the one who broke the law, and legal immigrant is like me who obeyed the law, so no I dont have a problem with myself, would you like to stick your foot further in your mouth now?

[98bigbutt]

@samuils,True,but ignorant assholes like the Nazi skinheads and the minutemen are making it a race issue because brown people are coming to America more than ever.

[samuils]

@98bigbutt I hate Nazis and skinheads just as much as any normal person would. As far as minutemen, I have never heard them say anything about brown people, I do however hear them talk about laws, as well as hear them talk about the same issues I talk about. Once again its about law, and no one has the right to break it, it is really as simple as that. Are you honestly in favor of braking laws?

[islandmuffin]

This is a brilliant piece or writing, perhaps the best commentary I have ever read. The Alien in the White House: (online.wsj.com/article/SB1000­142405274870330260457529423163­1318728.html)

[Nphyx]

Good luck with that. I have serious and (I think) informed doubts about whether the United States will exist in 20 years, let alone 40. The *people* will still be here, and they very well may be world leaders in some sense, but the *state* is doomed.

[agitcam]

This joker is optimistic about selling lots of books by telling people an "optimistic" fairy tale. Americans have been lied to for decades.The U.S. is in a depression but the truth is spoken in the media. This sycophant's brain is scrambled or rather "diverse in it's diversity". Monsanto is right now taking control of the food supply with its seed monopoly. The corporations are in control and just take a look at the Gulf because that's the real symbol of the future. He's a liar about rail.

[bullpcp]

The whole interview was worth it for his last comment.

[4thstuning]

Kotkin's final statement about hierarchy and control was spot on. The last thing the American government wants is for a thousand flowers to bloom.

[aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

thats great and all, but this guy misses the point that the imigration he is talking about is illegal.

nobody has a problem with legal imigration.

[Saturnous]

@aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot : In a democracy the people decide what is legal and illegal. "Ilegal immigrants" are the scarecrows politicians put in the front of the REAL problems which are in uncomfortable to solve. If you read Welles "1984" you will understand that the "inner circle" needs always a conflict to prevent the arise of a new political class which ask for revolution (becoming the new inner circle). War on Drugs and chasing immigrants is just the US variant of "bread and games".

[aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

@Saturnous bull shit!

this is about people who want to cheat the system and skip the process simple as that. It is not fair for Americans and it is not fair for the honest Imigrants that are waiting to become Americans. these illegals choose to give the system the finger and America the finger. I they cant obey the law right from the start what hope is there if cultivating honest law abiding citizens.

[Saturnous]

@aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot : 1. remember America are 2 continents - the USA is a country - calling only the US citizens Americans is a slap into the faces of all these non-US Americans. Maybe the socialism in South America will success in the next years more and more then the Video has right :).

2. Honestly - how does these Illegals ever inflict your personal live ? They do dirty lousy jobs - cant participate the welfare - why they bother you ?

Less then 400 people own 60% of the overall wealth.

[Saturnous]

@aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot : And now tell me why I (German) without a university degree can immigrate quite easy, while a Mexican with a degree and close relatives already living in the US would have to go a very hard way ? The immigration laws of the US are racist - as the rules differs for different countries. The US does not have a tight welfare system - if people want to immigrate then they want to work - e.g. in Germany minimal welfare is a paid flat (+water/energy) + 468US$/month/person.

[MrVarulv]

fuck racemixing!

[Dedhedted71]

Bluegrass & Latin music have been being blended for years now!!! David Grisman Quintet is just one band I can think of.

[HeffeLoco9]

Disappointing. Disappointing analysis, disappointing topic, disappointing personality. The very idea that someone thinks he knows what anything will be like in 40 years is ridiculous. Just look at what people thought things would be like 40 years ago. Nonsense.

[TuestiReeve]

...that's assuming we're still around in 2050, right? Good luck on that one...

[antred11]

@TuestiReeve I guarantee you that we'll still be around. Well, maybe not you and I, but humanity for sure. ;)

[soundmoneyfan]

Keep giving Houston love ReasonTV!!!!

[CannabisEducation420]

@soundmoneyfan For sure. I am from Houston & I love it when the spotlight is brought to us for a little while.

[jjmacjjmac]

Lateral control is not Marxist and that is why Marxism=fail every time. Very good point.

[JCortexEffect]

Who is too say America is number one now ?

I am American and I love this country

The US has lead the world in Science and Technology

The US gets a lot of bad rep because of all these Wars we fight

The rest of the world thinks we love war for some reason

no we don't love war,most americans want are troops back home.

The US has its problems but its overall a great country

Canada has its problems but overall its a great country

WE ARE HUMANS AND WE COME FROM EARTH !

[purebacon]

@JCortexEffect Overall the people from the US are great. The government, like every other government, is shitty.

[XCritonX]

After the coming Second American Revolution (hopefully not a bloody one) I believe the US will return to a time of liberty and small government.

[purebacon]

@XCritonX It will only be a time of liberty if there is no government. We tried a small, constitutionally restrained government already. It failed. And I also hope the revolution isn't bloody, but I think it will have to be.

[asalade]

Pointless interview