Another new report – another obvious conclusion.  A government report released today paints a somewhat disconcerting new picture of an unstable America and reduced American influence as India and China continue to grow.

“Although the United States is likely to remain the single most powerful actor, the United States’ relative strength — even in the military realm — will decline and U.S. leverage will become more constrained,” says the report, which is the fourth in a series from the Intelligence Council.

Obviously, I don’t give the Intelligence Coucil a lot of weight, but I do believe that they’re on to something, noting that the the world will continue shrinking and natural resources will become increasingly scarce in the years to come. Their argument that the world is in the midst of an unprecedented “transfer of global weath and power” from west to east is sound and as we continue to transfer manufacturing, mining, and intelligence labor to other countries the United States will simply be a military force and holder of other people’s money.  It’s hard not to understand or see the logic in what we’re saying, and the reasons behind it, from this chair, are quite obvious.

After losing $320 million last fiscal year, and filing Chapter 11, Circuit City is closing 155+ stores in a last ditch effort to survive. Will it be enough? Doubtful.

It is very unfortunate that some companies have been unable to change and keep-up in today’s ever changing marketplace, and Circuit City is a prime example.  Once a leader in the consumer electronics market they have recently fallen well behind their closest competitor, Best Buy.  Today, citing concerns about their future, Circuit City files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which, in theory, would allow them to coninue operations through the peak holiday season.

What’s not written out in their filing are the changes that they’re going to make that might enable their future success.  The company does not appear ready to change, and without a much needed 180 degrees change from what they’re doing today it’s unlikely that they will last through the holiday season, let alone through 200.  So here’s the burn…