Dependent Nation

From The American Prospect:

I'm not saying we're destined to decline. But we had better jog ourselves out of the eternal sunshine ...and start dealing with our real economic and political problems. We cannot stop China's sun from rising, but we can keep our own from setting.

I had a little bull session with a friend of mine that is definitely more to the conservative side than I am. I was, actually we both were, shocked at how many issues we agreed on. I am hopeful that a new consensus may be slowly forming. Unfortunately we have to sift through the "never wrong" ,"evil enemy" wurlitizer before we get to people.
I think deep down inside most Americans understand that America is becoming a dependent nation. I also think most Americans see it as a mistake that we should let ourselves be dependent on other countries to survive.
We need a robust manufacturing base not just to be independent but to make sure we also have the people with the skills and innovation to keep us at the top of our game.
Not only are we goods and manufacturing dependent but we are also oil dependent, and even economically dependent with Japan and China combined owning $906 billion of the roughly $1.1 trillion of U.S. Treasuries held overseas.
They hold the credit card debt. What propitious for them time will they decide to manipulate all that money?
Can we become energy independent and a leader in alternative energy? Can we be the leader in industry and innovation? Can we balance our bills, be an example for the world in matters large and small? Yes we can. But we have to face today's perilous facts first and then UNIFY behind an agreed vision for our country. Can we remain the beacon for another 225 years? Yes. Could we fall hard and fast? I fear the table is being set.