Notes on the Decline of a Great Nation

That's the title of an extended analysis by Der Spiegel of the U.S. in the Autumn of 2012.  The nation in decline is ours.  It is hard to argue against the proposition.  The writers summarize the analysis as follows:

The United States is frittering away its role as a model for the rest of the world. The political system is plagued by an absurd level of hatred, the economy is stagnating and the infrastructure is falling into a miserable state of disrepair. On this election eve, many Americans are losing faith in their country's future.

The article is well worth your reading.