novelonline Chapter 2377
Chapter 2377
Chapter 2377
The US government was also at a loss at this point.
Especially President Benjamin.
He considers himself the unluckiest US president in history!
When he first started his campaign, the United States was the most powerful country in the world, bar none!
What was America like back then?
The United States has long held the top position in the world in terms of comprehensive strength across multiple fields. This leading position is not only reflected in "hard indicators" such as total economic output and military strength, but also extends to "soft power" aspects such as science and technology, culture, and rule-making.
The US GDP is projected to exceed $29 trillion, accounting for 26.3% of the global economy. Its consumer market is the largest in the world, with per capita disposable income exceeding $8.6. Resident consumption accounts for more than 70% of GDP, supporting a business ecosystem of "buying globally and selling globally".
The US dollar accounts for 59% of global foreign exchange reserves and over 40% of international trade settlements. The combined market capitalization of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq accounts for 40% of the global stock market, and Wall Street's capital flows have a profound impact on global markets. The Federal Reserve's monetary policy adjustments directly affect exchange rates and inflation levels in various countries, making it a veritable "barometer of the world economy."
Of the Fortune Global 500 companies, 136 are from the United States, covering core sectors such as technology (Apple, Microsoft), retail (Amazon, Walmart), and energy (ExxonMobil). These companies not only control key links in the global supply chain but also reap excess profits through technology patents and brand premiums.
In terms of technology.
The United States spends over $7000 billion annually on research and development, accounting for 3% of its GDP, and boasts over 390 Nobel laureates in science. Silicon Valley is home to more than 50% of the world's tech unicorns, with OpenAI's ChatGPT, Nvidia's AI chips, and SpaceX's rocket recovery technology representing the highest levels in their respective industries.
Of the world's top 10 chip design companies, six are American (such as Qualcomm and Intel), leading the research and development of advanced processes below 7 nanometers.
NASA leads the operation of the International Space Station, while SpaceX's Starlink project has deployed more than 4000 satellites, accounting for 60% of the total number of satellites in orbit worldwide.
Of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies, seven are from the United States (such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson), and the patent barriers for mRNA vaccines and gene editing technology (CRISPR) are difficult to overcome.
In terms of talent, the United States is unparalleled in the world!
Ten universities, including MIT and Harvard, consistently rank among the top 20 globally, attracting 950,000 international students. This model of "harvesting the world's top minds" ensures the intergenerational continuation of their technological leadership.
And of course, the most important thing is military hegemony!
美国军费达8860亿美元，超过其后10国总和。其拥有11艘核动力航母、5244枚核弹头，F35隐形战机和萨德反导系统等装备代差显著。全球374个军事基地覆盖80个国家，控制马六甲海峡、霍尔木兹海峡等战略要冲。北约、美日韩同盟等体系将40余国绑上战车，形成“美国主导、盟友买单”的军事生态。
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and other arms manufacturers account for 42% of global arms exports, with foreign military sales alone reaching $1530 billion. This "war economy" both consolidates global hegemony and supports domestic employment and technological advancements.
At the same time, American culture has a global influence; whatever is popular in America becomes popular all over the world!
It can even influence the aesthetics of the entire world!
Hollywood films account for over 50% of global box office revenue, Netflix has over 2.3 million subscribers, and Disney has built shared memories for teenagers worldwide through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram control 70% of global traffic, shaping modern lifestyles.
In terms of the power of public opinion.
CNN, The New York Times, and other media outlets dominate international public opinion, and Associated Press news is reprinted by 80% of the world's media. The ideology of the "American Dream" infiltrates through film, education, and NGOs, and even influences the policy-making of other countries.
Education standards are even monopolized globally!
The QS World University Rankings, TOEFL/IELTS tests, and other evaluation systems are all dominated by American institutions. Universities around the world are competing to adopt American-style curriculum systems, forming a complete chain of control from "knowledge production to standard setting to talent certification".
Another aspect is resource hegemony: the "gift from God" of land and energy.
The United States has 157 million square kilometers of arable land and is the world's largest producer of corn and soybeans, accounting for 37% and 32% of the world's exports, respectively. Grain traders such as ADM and Cargill control global agricultural product pricing power and can even overthrow regimes in other countries through food embargoes.
The shale revolution has enabled the United States to produce 1230 million barrels of crude oil per day and become the world's largest exporter of LNG. This "energy independence" has not only reduced industrial costs but has also become a strategic tool for sanctioning other countries (such as restricting Russian gas pipelines).
It boasts the world's largest proven mineral resources, with abundant reserves of strategic resources such as rare earths and lithium. The undeveloped areas of Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico offer vast potential for long-term development.
Internationally, they are also the manipulators of international rules!
The World Bank and the IMF hold 15.8% and 16.5% of the voting rights respectively, and possess veto power. The WTO dispute settlement mechanism and the SWIFT payment system are both influenced by the will of the United States.
From 5G spectrum allocation to AI ethics frameworks, from internet domain name management to aerospace protocols, the United States dominates more than 3000 international technical standards. This "rule-based moat" makes it difficult for newcomers to challenge its position.
Domestic laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Helmsburton Act have been weaponized to maintain their technological and commercial hegemony.
Its dominance is no longer limited to a single field; it is a "hegemonic system" that spans multiple dimensions, including the economy, military, technology, and culture. From the flow of capital on Wall Street in New York to technological breakthroughs in Silicon Valley labs; from military bases around the world to the export of values in Hollywood movies, the United States' influence permeates every corner of the world. This status as a "superpower" is not accidental, but rather the result of the combined effects of geographical endowments, historical opportunities, institutional design, and strategic layout. It is also a comprehensive power loop that has been continuously accumulated and iterated over more than two centuries.
The rise of a great power is inseparable from its advantageous geographical environment and resources, and the United States has been truly fortunate in this regard. For example, its geographical location: the United States is surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the east and west, respectively, and borders relatively weaker countries like Canada and Mexico to the south. This perfect geographical configuration has become a natural security barrier for the United States.
With these advantages, the United States not only successfully weathered the two World Wars but also seized the opportunity to absorb global capital, talent, and technology, ultimately becoming the biggest winner in both wars. Meanwhile, other European and Asian countries suffered heavy losses, while the US gained a head start in development. While other countries were still recovering, the US had already begun comprehensive development. Besides its geographical location, the US's natural resource reserves provided the foundation for its industrialization. Its arable land area was enormous, and the climates of its various regions were suitable for growing different crops. It also possessed the coal reserves in the Appalachian Mountains, enough to support the US's energy needs for hundreds of years. The convenient transportation around the mountains allowed for easy transport of mined coal. Thanks to these coal reserves, the US steel and power industries developed rapidly, boosting the economy. This combination of "resource self-sufficiency + climate suitability" enabled the US to achieve agricultural mechanization early on and soon became the world's largest food exporter. Today, it frequently uses food as a "weapon" to sanction other countries.
Of course, this doesn't mean that the country has no other problems.
On the contrary, the problem is very serious!
The United States faces several internal contradictions: First, its debt is soaring, with the federal government debt exceeding $36 trillion. Second, the wealth gap is enormous, with 1% of the population controlling 40% of the wealth, while the income of the lower classes is declining, leading to social division and a rise in populism. Third, the hollowing out of manufacturing is a problem; in pursuit of profits, American companies are transferring some low-end manufacturing to other countries, making industrial supply chains fragile. Furthermore, there are external contradictions, such as the "de-dollarization" trend in many countries, with many choosing to settle trade transactions in their own currencies. Saudi Arabia and other countries are also converting some foreign exchange into yuan or euros for settlements. Clearly, global trust in the US dollar has declined significantly.
In the military sphere, other countries are becoming increasingly powerful, while the United States' bases around the world are frequently attacked, and divisions are emerging among its allies. For example, countries such as France and Germany are increasingly seeking strategic autonomy. Under these circumstances, the cost for the United States to maintain its hegemonic position is becoming increasingly high.
But these challenges will not weaken the United States immediately!
That's enough for Benjamin himself!
As long as the United States doesn't collapse under his own leadership, he can remain calm and composed!
It's worth noting that when he first ran for president, he never thought he would succeed on his first try. He thought he would practice first and build up his popularity with the public.
It was a perfect shot!
After he became president... things took a sharp turn for the worse.
The world suddenly seemed so unfamiliar to him!
Benjamin truly felt he was wronged!
He himself hadn't done anything particularly disastrous to the country or its people, nor had a world war suddenly broken out. It's just... the world suddenly changed.
Things that were once called myths suddenly appeared, and then aliens from science fiction novels also came.
Finally, even an ancient legend like Atlantis popped up!
Can you blame President Benjamin for this?
What can he do?
Then the superheroes arrived, and then Hydra, which was thought to have disappeared from history, came out again... and along with it, a bunch of strange organizations.
He just couldn't understand it.
Yes, the world isn't all that great, but do we really need to be so proactive in courting death?
Not really!
The world is changing so fast that it's hard to keep up.
Benjamin did his best to maintain it, but unfortunately... it didn't have much effect.
By the time he realized what was happening, everyone was smart enough to know that this undesirable position had become a hot potato, and he couldn't shake it off no matter what he tried.
Of course, this is also a joke; he himself is not willing to give up the presidency.
I'm a little tired.
But it still holds power! No matter how weak the United States becomes, it is still one of the world's strongest countries.
As public opinion grew increasingly turbulent.
Benjamin knew he had to do something.
He needs to prove that the US government hasn't collapsed!
The eldest brother is still the eldest brother!
Even when the tiger dies, its stance remains!
"Do you think they would agree if I asked Kai and the others to go to God-given Island to help the government take over that island?"
Amidst the endless arguments, Benjamin suddenly asked a question.
Benjamin's staff, cabinet members, and representatives of major domestic political forces have been arguing in the White House for days about how the government should respond to the new situation.
But how to say it?
There are far too few options!
Every time someone makes a proposal, someone immediately objects!
That's just how politics is; often, it's just about opposing for the sake of opposing.
This is especially true when a country enters a period of involution.
During a period of rapid national development, the entire country will have an upward momentum. This is because during the process of national expansion and development, countless interests will be generated, and various domestic forces can obtain a lot of benefits without fierce struggle!
But when the country enters a period of decline, things change.
This means that the country's interest groups have expanded significantly, while their gains, both domestically and internationally, have begun to shrink.
The expansion of interest groups means that they need more benefits to feed themselves.
However, as overall interests shrink, a situation arises where there are too many wolves and not enough meat.
In order to ensure that their own interest group can eat more, they have no choice but to snatch food from the mouths of others!
This is also the most fundamental reason for the struggle.
Just like in ancient times, dynasties throughout history have found it difficult to escape the cycle of order and chaos.
After Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, although he abolished the hereditary system of official positions and stipends, thus breaking the rule of the aristocracy to some extent, the subsequent systems such as the recommendation system, the Nine-Rank System, and the imperial examination system, while providing opportunities for advancement to some, failed to fundamentally change the phenomenon of class stratification. During the Han and Wei-Jin periods, due to the high cost of papermaking and printing, studying became a luxury activity, mainly monopolized by the powerful and wealthy. This made both the recommendation system and the Nine-Rank System tools for the powerful and wealthy to consolidate their power, thus giving rise to the powerful families of the Han Dynasty and the aristocratic clans of the Wei-Jin period. However, with the gradual implementation of the imperial examination system during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, although it provided some opportunities for those from humble backgrounds to rise, the path to advancement remained narrow, like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge; the chances for ordinary people to change their fate through the imperial examinations remained slim. From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the promotion system failed to significantly change class stratification; the powerful and wealthy monopolized political power, and the common people faced great difficulties in advancement.
Let's examine the resource allocation system. Ancient traditional agricultural states always considered agriculture the foundation of their nation. However, due to the backwardness of their production methods, land was particularly crucial in agricultural production. Since Qin Shi Huang implemented the policy of "the common people owning their own land," successive dynasties inherited this system, recognizing the legitimacy of private land ownership and allowing people to freely buy and sell land. This system, to some extent, exacerbated the unfairness of resource allocation, enabling the privileged class to easily exploit the people. Private land ownership and unfair resource allocation intensified social contradictions, leading to the exploitation of the people by the privileged class, the bankruptcy of self-cultivating farmers, and ultimately, uprisings and the collapse of the regime.
Because social classes were relatively rigid in ancient societies, when ordinary people could not make a living, they often chose to rebel, attempting to break the existing class order through violence in order to achieve a redistribution of resources. Although only the peasant uprisings of the Han and Ming dynasties successfully seized power, these uprisings undoubtedly accelerated the collapse of the imperial rule, such as the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the Han dynasty and the Huang Chao Rebellion in the Tang dynasty.
Then a cycle is formed!
In fact, the principles are all the same.
That's exactly what happened with the Benjamin government!
It's just that it's changed from land to something more complex.