This is long article so lot of thinking must have went into writing it. I have only few quick points to add. First, anybody who pays passing attention to the current economic and social trends in Russian society, can attest it is Russians who in danger of lossing their souls as Russians are becoming shockingly materialistic; second, the U.S empire is founded on the enduring ideology od Manifest Destiny. The author knows the moral and ideological imperatives of this philosophy. Russia and Russians cannot "save" the American empire but this is really the agenda to bring Russia into the fold of the American empire. If this is what the Russians want then that is their choice but it is Russia that becoming aggressively materialistic and in some point the two societies will meet centre of the new temple of materialism.

The first female image- has been quickly replaced! She looked more Siberian-a true ‘hybrid’ Eurasian image of the Russian Cold North! So why she is gone!

To save something, you have to find it, so what is America? Is it the Military industrial complex, with its Soviet style economics, is the constantly changing immigration landscape, is it its constantly downward moral standing, is it the upcoming of religeous groups.... The problem is you really can't find America, because it doesn't exist - Yes there is a name, a flag, a hymn. But America was formed by desperate or adventurous people jumping on a piece of rock, and kicking off the ones already there. Then the process continued, and continues to this day. So there is no real America, other than a label of a continually changing environment. Change that will in the end probably remove the very label of the rock, which is its only identifying feature. Yes america, the land of the free, free to do anything, including destroy their country and millions of other lives with it. See America's strength is change, and change is its weakness, immigration is its strength, but it is also its weakness. This is always the case in anything. But America has never stopped long enough to be America. America isn't a place, isn't a time, just an evolution, but that's its strength, I hear the shout, and the answer, yes, and that's also its weakness. Optimists see the strengths, pessimists the weaknesses. Russia can't help with this, only changing Americans can, to decide, what are their strengths and amplify them. What are their weaknesses and guard against them. So it's all in the psyche of America, they are the absoute humanity market, if the investors confidence is high, they will profit, if it isn't then there will be losses. And the investors, well they are the people themselves. Talk of an incestuous market, well there you have it! Keep running until the index goes bad, if you want to listen to some soul on the way, well that's fine, but along the way crashes will appear and the currency will choose to change iteslf - comprende! It's all built on confidence, so be confident!

I don't know much about saving souls but I know a little about wildfire-fighting and the IL-76 waterbomber Robert and Dana Rohrabacher know that story too. That one, had it happened, would have made US television. It may still happen. Who knows?

The author talks as if Russia has no flaws at all. What about it's dramatically decreasing population? Unsafe buildings and shotty construction? The masses of children that are put up for adoption?

There is a alot of defensiveness towards this article and I think its because he's put a mirror in our faces...and hit some serious nerves!! The point is US is in headed towards an irreversable decline...he's not the first person to say it or first author to write about it...and a very brilliant article might I add. I dont think Russia is the county to compare the US to for help or change. Russia has its own issues to deal with. maybe not same as US but they have'em. US is in a class of its own. Which makes it harder because there is no one to adequately compare ourselves too! The US, birthed with ideals comprised in the constitution with the objective to protect us from communism, holocaust, dictatorships,totalitarianism, social and religious injustices, and the like, which affect other countries around us, has now, as time passes, because the laws are not absolute, has become this ever changing culture, where the laws change with it...so what was once a blessing (the ideology of all men are ceated equal, yada yada ya) is now a curse, the loaded weapon once used to protect us has now turned on us...and since ppl to do not believe in absolute truths,which would gave us some thing to stand on, some type of foundation to return to, we are lost, trying to find our way home, when home was never a definite place.

America is on the decline - that's for sure. However, to many Americans it seems as if Russia is on ascending course for the following reasons: Russia has a strong leader (Putin), Russians know what they basically are (they are Russians and, as such, they have some common values) and that is a starting point for getting a clearer idea where to go. Americans, on the other hand, do not know exactly what they are and, consequently, they have no an idea where should they go to. Americans cannot have a strong leader anymore (whatever his personal characteristics) for he would authomatically be bonded and restricted by a bounch of lobbies (military lobby, too-big-too-fall banker lobby, Jewish lobby, etc.). On top of that, America is deadly broke, so a widespread sense of desperation is prevailing. Given that Russia once was a big player, and now it managed somehow to stear upwards again (to some extent, at least), many Americans think that maybe they could learn from Russia how it managed to overcome previous downfall. But, such an expectation is too childish for I don't believe Russia could offer the recipe. In my opinion the prospects for America are grim and relying on Russia is an "empty hope".

Listen….. Russia’s BIGGEST problem is not with the west or any one country. Russia’s BIGGEST problem is its decreasing population. Say what you want and try every reason or excuse you want, but with a decreasing population due to Russian citizens leaving their country and the one that are staying do NOT want to have kids or at the most one child is a very very big problem for Russia. My country has lost close to 5 million people in the past 20 years and most of my friends do not want to have kids once they marry because they do not feel they can support a family. Without people, a country can do very little and will face many problems.

From my observation, The United States of America is an illusion projected to the minds of the people living in other countries. It is not a Democracy, but instead a Plutocracy. If you study the original documents and what was 'intentioned', and contrast the documents with the lives of the people whom created those documents, it is easy to conclude nothing has ever changed. It has always been a Plutocracy projecting the illusion of Democracy. The sad part about it all is that the continual erosion and demise of the U.S. cannot be prevented--it is on 'automatic', with the few rich whom control the laws and the Fed doing what is best for them, in the end still believing they are impervious to self-destruction.

I really have to laugh at the population argument for Russia: Lets' summarise the western analysis: 1. If Russia's population is going down, that is a huge problem for Russia. They simply won't have enough people to maintain a country. Yes I now there are countries with small pupulations with a full culture, but that doesn't fit so ignore that. Yes I know if they have a limited set of resources, and less people to share it amongst, people would be richer, but ignore that also. Yes I know with nuclear weapons, a country of say 3 million could defend against anyone, but ignore that also. Yes I know.... But ignore all those things. Just realise that Russia is bad. 2. If Rusia's population is stable, then this is a huge problem for Russia. It shows stagnation and an inability to move forward. Yes, I know it shows stability, that the country seems balanced, but that doesn't fit so ignore that. Yes I know they will be able to plan with almost ceratinty for education, health and employemnt, but ignore that. Yes I know..... But ignore all those things. Just realise that Russia is bad. 3. If Russia's population is rising, then this is a huge problem for Russia. It shows uncontrolable growth and overheating. It shows bad managaement. Yes I know it represents growth, that their increased wealth is turning into a vibrant expansion, but ignore that. Yes, I know that will generate a greater GDP and give them more power on the world stage, but ignore that. Yes, I know..... But ignore those things. Just realise Russia is bad. Just turn the western spinner, and it will give you the result you want, Russia is always to blame. Isn't that what Peter Lavelle said. Well you can see the rational behind it! I am off to solve the problem(s), its time for bed!

Any real demographist can tell you the real situation in Russia with its population. There are no real floods of Russians leaving. Of course there are a lot of immigrants and many from the 1990s when Russia was in economic tormoil. Any demographist that doesn't follow the western agenda knows that Russia's population is lopsided. The same particular generation keeps being struck over an over. WWII the people who were at age to start family were mostly killed off due to the war. Those that did have families their children grew up and there was an economic down turn after the war that hit those children, then again and then the collapse of the Soviet Union. The demographists have studied it and said it will take generations for it to wear off. Russia's population is mostly young now with a lot of pensioners. Russia is by no means disappearing despite Western dreams of such happening. This article is a criticism by an American journalist working for RT. It is a honest one with a lot of hard work. To address adoptions, they use the number 600,000 Russian children. That number is children not living with their natural parents. Doesn't necessarily mean they are in an orphanage. Take America's number of 2.4 million. A lot of people in America are against those adopting from abroad because there are many children in America who need families also. Again RT didn't post my previous comment here, not surprising. It gets tiring trying to get a message posted here.

NUTA, It seems obligatory for some to point out Russia’s supposed “demographic demise.” It is ironic that these doomsday oracles never once mention that Russia has more people than Germany and Great Britain combined and that Russia has the capacity to draw new people from the former Soviet space as the economic situation improves. Of course, Russian authorities are guilty of not promoting population health more broadly such as restring easy access to smoking, not banning smoking in public places and for not battling alcohol addiction more aggressively. But the Russian authorities are taking the right steps. Contrary to the RT image showing Russia's President grossing on Big Mac in Washington, according to media reports, in recent Saint Petersburg economic meeting, alcohol was not allowed in the conference area. It is shame that RT did not give this a full publicity. This is ironic in the face of RT showcasing the Russian President eating big mac and drinking coke. Yes, the Russians have something special to share with the world. And it is true Russians have great spiritual soul and boundless artistic creativity. My fear is that rather than saving the U.S empire, we may lose Russia’s universal spirit of creativity.

Lol! I just had to laugh at the term 'freak show' for Spongebob. Really now? That aside, Even though America is on a decline, it still has not hit Great Deppression standards, and if we came out of that in one piece, we can most definitely come out of this whole mess. Also, Russia isn't all sunshine and daisies either. My best friend lives in Moscow, and she says a lot of people do not like Putin or Medvedev. Looks like we have similar problems.

Well, i would agree with a point that Americans have lost their souls! (IF THEY EVER HAD ANY) Their God is money! its all about the money down there! Saying these i must add that even though Russians are not as materialistic as ppl in the west, and steel are more humaine and charish spiritual gain above any other, its changing really fast!! I belive that in a decate or two Russians will be no different from their neghbors far west! It really hurts me to even think about that, because i love Russia and ppl here for simple heart that they have! May God have mercy on the next generation!

All the observations about a decay of American Empire are true but the predictions as to the speed of this collapse are exagerrated. Indeed Americans could learn a lot from Russian spirit but it will never happen. "Russian spirt" is only one example of a heathy human spirit . Many other nations maintain healthy spirit for as long as excessive material consumption is not destroying the most basic human values. It is unlikely that Russia in particular will ever have a chance to propagate her spirit to America. All of that are wishfull dreams ( which are paradoxiaclly part of a "Russian spirit"). The problem is that average American is unlikely to adopt any foreign spirit becasue beacuse he believes in superiorty of his culture. The collapse of Ameria is inevitable and cannot be prevened by curing of American spirt. A rebirth of spirit ( catharsis) will only occur after a collapse . While Marx was not always correct his theory still holds in this case. The decays of societies are cyclical and cannot be avoided. They can only be slowed down

I am half~Russian, half~American, and I've spent much time in both countries. I'm unimpressed with this article, which is hardly about the benefits which might be had by closer integration of Russia~US cultural ties while being more of a skewed bashing of the U.S. Having experienced both countries extensively, I can tell you that the United States is not losing its soul, but rather that it is a soul being tested by passing economic difficulties. Every generation has had its share of histrionic doomsayers speaking in emotional absolutes. "The U.S. is falling!!" Every generation has had writers and critics who've said such a thing. What is in fact happening is that the U.S. *they* liked was going away, because all countries change, including Russia. The fact is, Americans really are not as beholden to single~minded materialism as this article would have us believe. Many Americans are more than satisfied with being able to maintain a healthy family in a modest home while working secure jobs which allow them to do what they love. Furthermore, the author of this article seems not to understand how deeply the various christian denominations have anchored themselves within U.S. society and culture. As for violence, well, I've witnessed many acts of violence between Russians first~hand. I've read about plenty of brutal murders in Russia, and to the same degree that I've read about them in the U.S. Quite frankly, while I love the cultural contributions of Russian authors and musicians, I really don't have much affinity for the "Russian soul". For me, there's too much emotion, too much tragedy, and too much of a disdain for restrained reason when resolving interpersonal (and international) conflicts. Admittedly, I laugh to think that I've seen much of this from both left~wing and right~wing factions within the United States, so perhaps the "Russian soul" has already unwittingly permeated U.S. society.

Come on, be serious! Russia teach America anything? we beat them in the cold war. What could they teach us? And what is the "Russian soul" anyways. America invented jazz; we have enough soul, thank you.

Russia has already suffered through decades of communism and dictatorship. They could give America some clue as to how to prevent the same ordeal, if inclined to.

I agree with the author on some issues but what the author does not make mention too is that this is a global issue not just and American one. Agree with TV can be a very bad influence on American society in general but we are not the only ones with this problem too. The eating thing I agree with also, however America is changing this slowly just as we are doing with cigarette smoking. Just like a cruise ship turning this is an issue that will evently turn but at this point is in the begining stages. If you look in our supermarkets you have never seen a larger selection of organics than you do now. This to is moving slowly aspecially since the economy has turned people are trying to save anywhere they can and unfortuanetly this is any easy one to knock off. In most cases its cheaper to eat unhealthy hopefully this will change more quickly. The author made note about the fact that Russians do not have this problem and I would agree that when I was in Russia few looked over-weight but it maybe just because they are not eating do to lower salaries verses wishing they had more food. I do agree that Russia does have a bette eating habits(whole foods vs fast food) and I would say I hope this does not change for Russia. America is slowly changing here too. Materialism has been a issue here is the states but in some cases its not all bad. Public bathrooms here in the states are taken for granted but in Russia you would be lucky to get a hole in the ground at the railway stations and have to pay for it as well. Also it drives Americans to give more to charties than any other nation which most simply dismiss as they have the money they can afford it. I agree we have a society that bases a lot of things that are material and I think individuals can make a difference here with how they raise there children and how they make their own personal choices. Russians are not exempt from materialism, in fact in some ways are more materialistic like in clothing.