The BBC has been running some interesting programs recently on a Goldman Sachs report on the rising economic power of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4261354.stm
"...by 2050 (and probably much sooner) the BRICs countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - will be up there at the top table of the world."

"At current rates of growth, China's economy will become bigger than that of the US in 2041. And it will keep on growing, decade after decade, because it still will be much smaller in terms of gross domestic product per head of population."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4260368.stm
"...Goldman Sachs argues that by 2050 only the US and Japan are likely to remain in the G7, the group of the world's seven richest nations."

At first glance this news looks disheartening and even scary. After all, the only thing that sustains our superior military capabilities (and thus our freedom) is our vast economic power. However, I doubt that the good ol' U.S. of A. will fade away as completely as Europe has.

I wonder how we Americans (proud and arrogant) will respond culturally to falling from the top...