Germany sees America in decline.

A German news magazine, Der Spiegel, recently headlined an article: A Superpower in Decline; Is the American Dream Over? Photos in the article of abandoned American factories, lines of unemployed citizens seeking jobs, houses in foreclosure, and unfinished housing developments project a dreary picture of life in the United States.  The article claimed that “Americans have lived beyond their means for decades,” and “everything was paid for (homes, cars, college tuition, etc.) with borrowed money—which has driven the total US household debt to almost $1 trillion, nearly 20 times the figure in 1970.”

The article blamed America’s economic problems on the loss of 6 million jobs as the industrial base moved to other countries and on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have cost the country over one trillion dollars and ballooned the government debt from 57% of GNP in 2000 to 83% in 2009.  As a result of this “perfect storm” of job losses, collapsing real estate markets, spiraling debt, a $2 trillion trade imbalance with China and a widening gap between rich and poor, America appears to the German press as “a confused and fearful country” (Der Spiegel, November 1, 2010).

Long ago, God warned the Israelite nations that if they disobeyed His commandments, “I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19), you will “come down lower and lower” (Deuteronomy 28:43) and your allies will “despise” you and eventually seek to overthrow you (Jeremiah 4:30).  We appear to be witnessing this prophesied demise!