Will Hutton pushes back against declinism:
It is this strange cocktail of argument, of plural institutions that check and balance, of investing in knowledge and of a belief that no problem can’t be fixed that underpins American strength. China is the only country in the world with a similar continental-scale economy and bigger population that conceivably could mount a challenge, but it has none of these institutions and processes. Despite its size, it has only three universities in the top 100, not one brand in the top 100, not one company in the world top 50 ranked by R&D and it registers virtually no patents.
Yes we can. Everything that is wrong in America can be countered with what is right in America. And the emergence of Obama on the left and McCain on the right is a sign of that. What’s needed is more intelligent and discerning patriotism – the kind that notices problems, flaws, failings and wants to set them right.
The Dish 