Amen to that! The beginning of the end for many great nations and empires start when the leadership and the people believe they can get away with subpar policies and resist necessary reforms. Look at Singapore. They're one of the most non-corrupt and successful societies in the world. The leaders do what's necessary for the well-being of the nation, and are not allowed to accept political contributions. They are not swayed by special interest groups, are well-educated, and do not always have to heed to the less-educated (when most of us compare ourselves to Singapore's leaders, we ARE less educated/brilliant) populace.
As for invading the US? Here's my little hypothetical, improbable, but fun scenario! It involves pitting the Chinese against the US. Many agree that the Chinese, if anybody, are the top candidate for invading the US.
I think they would have to "prime" us with strategic nuclear launches. Assuming our orbital (still in the labs) and airborne (successfully tested) anti-missile lasers are operational, we may be able to shoot down the majority of their salvo (12 ICBMs); a few may get through. During their boost phase, we have a choice to retaliate (we have the ability to detect launches). If we do, cross China off the map. Let's assume we don't retaliate, out of pure benevolence for their civilians. If our major military bases in Guam, San Diego, etc are left at least partly intact, we will begin the conventional battles. They will pit their Su-27's against our then-deployed F-22's and F-18's. They incur heavy numerical losses, while we suffer monetary losses (F-22's are about $100M each). However, the real damage comes when surface-skimming anti-ship missiles bite into whichever CVN's we have deployed or moved into the area at the time. The Pentagon reels in shock from the loss. Our P-3C's (or its successor) hunt down their approximately 70 submarines. Torpedoes fire from both sides. Ultimately, the PLA's outdated sub fleet, which has an inadequate number of advanced Kilo-class vessles, bites the dust. Our surface fleet also suffers tremendous losses, since tracking subs and avoiding torpedoes is still rather difficult. The PLA navy, however, is no longer existent. We advance into Chinese waters, backed by Japan's SDF, with the aim to bombard their coastal installations. We are greeted with more land-launched Sunfire missiles. There is almost no way to avoid them. Whatever CVNs we have left are largely wiped out. Without a sea-based platform, our fighters (assuming they took off) make emergency landings on Taiwanese soil. Taiwan is now forced to join the fray. Assuming Congress will approve the purchase, the USAF is bolstered by the TAF's F-35's. China starts lobbing its M-11's towards Taiwan's capital and its naval installations near Kaoshiung. The Taiwanese soon realized they've been duped by the US into buying the ineffective PAC-3's. Much of the Taiwanese navy is destroyed. Their 9 brand-spanking new Kidd-class diesel subs attempt a blockade along the Chinese coastline, flanked by the SDF Navy's two Aegis cruisers. The Japanese now kick themselves for not having remilitarized. The PLAAF's remaining Su-27's and their native J-series (J is for joke) wings take to the sky. However, without advanced reconnesaince aircrafts, the enemy navy avoids detection. The TAF's F-35's and SDFAF's F-15's make short work of the Flankers, notwithstanding noticeable losses. The PLA lobs all the cruise missiles it can at Taiwan, while the 2.5M+ strong army, without air-support, invade India in frustration. 2.5 men survive. The People's Daily reports a stunning victory against the Japanese dogs and the evil American imperialists. The US "accidently" fires another missile into Chinese civilian territory, this time destroying the People's Daily headquarters. Putin's approval rating skyrockets as Sukhov and the nation's shipyards make a killing on orders from what's left of the PLA. Meanwhile, then intoxicated King Charles signs a document declaring war on China while getting a blow-job from his maid. The cum blotches out a part of "China," and the UK effectively declares war on Chile. Ever so confused, the French declare war on the UK. Newly-independent Iraq, ever so eager to please the US, declares war on Iran... cross out Iraq on your map. Canada finally declares support for the US. Three Canadian troopers are flown across the Pacific. In the US... celebrating the PLA's defeat, drunken soldiers turn a key, and push a red button. A shot is fired, and
WTF?!?!??!
