US - how will it end?

Lots of theories abound for an end to US dominance, and 'shift' to the east. However, most of the stories were told from the perspective of 'rise of china,' but not from that of 'inside' of America.

I do not think the rise of another nation will cause an end to a nation's dominance. A lot of the social network ties and infrastructure will continue to function even when other nations enrich themselves. Much like how British dominance did not come to an end even after Japan's rise. Its trading partners, ie colonies, still remain theirs for a long time.

The strength of a nation is much obtained by these network ties and infrastructure. By infrastructure, I also mean the dominance of English, international laws favoring US culture, US MNCs and their influence on nations policies, etc. However, there lies a threat indeed to the US dominance, and that is a risk of imploding.

I think no one can topple the US but itself. Recent years of catastrophic collective decisions brought itself to it current bad state - Enron, invasion of Iraq, financial crisis, and recently John Thain's bailing out of Merrill Lynch's employees using the government bail out fund.

I am suspecting these are all the American culture's own undoing. A culture of every man for himself, and believing that it will add up to collective good. However, these appeared to show that this mindset of fighting for oneself alone can become negative when present in someone at top office. Their actions are too significant to the livelihood of too many. As a result, top officers had to be shuffled every few years (4 years for presidents).

Now, everyone is hoping Obama is someone who can cleanse the internal injuries US had sustained last few years. He has to fight for many things, inclusive of selfish corporatism. All uphill battles.

No matter how it will end, this signaled a potential weakness in America, one itself ought to be aware of.