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=== Business is more powerful than military might. Graphs built on a great wealth of compelling data don't lie! ===
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[[File:The Great Powers Gap 2022.jpg|thumbnail|3500px|center|"The United States and China are undoubtedly the two most powerful countries, but at least one more country must be roughly in their league for multipolarity to exist. This is where claims of multipolarity fall apart. Every country that could plausibly rank third—France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom—is in no way a rough peer of the United States or China." -[https://archive.ph/I2bFZ The Myth of Multipolarity], American Power’s Staying Power, ''Foreign Affairs'', 2023
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[[File:US dollar to Chinese yuan.png|thumbnail|1200px|center|U.S. dollar to Chinese yuan exchange rate on April 19, 2024.
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In January 2024, Yahoo Finance rated the U.S. dollar the strongest currency in the world.<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-strongest-currencies-world-2024-132602145.html 15 Strongest Currencies in the World in 2024], Yahoo Finance, January 2024.</ref> In April 2024, Forbes ranked the U.S. dollar the 10th strongest currency.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/highest-currencies-in-the-world/ Top 10 Strongest Currencies In The World In April 2024], Forbes, April 2024</ref>
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See: [[Essay:Skepticism about China remaining a global power|Skepticism about China remaining a global power]] <br /><br />In addition, please see: <br /><br />*[[Chinese real estate crisis (2020–present)]]<br /><br />*[[Chinese stock markets|Chinese stock markets crisis]] (Since 2021, China’s stock markets have lost about $7 trillion in value.<ref>[https://www.marketplace.org/2024/02/06/why-chinas-stock-market-struggling/ What’s going on with China’s stock market?], MarketPlace.org</ref>)<br /><br />*[[Youth unemployment in China]] ]]
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[[File:Russian GNP 1991 to 2023.jpg|thumbnail|center|1200px|Russian GNP 1991 to August 2023.
*[[Essay: Vladimir Putin's foolish decision to launch an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022|Vladimir Putin's foolish decision to launch an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022]]
=== Nuclear bomb saber-rattling by drunk government officials is not impressive - ever! ===
See: [[Essay: Doomsday phobias - including nucleomituphobia caused by Russian threats to use a nuclear bomb|Doomsday phobias - including nucleomituphobia caused by Russian threats to use a nuclear bomb]]
[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|300px|right|In 2023, Russia had the second highest alcoholism rate in the world as far as it being a problem with both genders.<ref>[https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country Alcoholism by country]</ref> In addition, in 2023 Russia had the highest alcoholism rate for males.<ref>[https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country Alcoholism by country]</ref> ]]
In 2023, Russia had the second highest [[alcoholism]] rate in the world as far as it being a problem with both genders.<ref>[https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country Alcoholism by country]</ref> In addition, in 2023 Russia had the highest alcoholism rate for males.<ref>[https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country Alcoholism by country]</ref> In 2019, it was reported that every year 500,000 people die due to alcohol in Russia.<ref>[https://www.obserwatorfinansowy.pl/in-english/macroeconomics/demographic-crisis-in-russia/ Demographic crisis in Russia]</ref>
''The New York Post'' reported on June 14, 2023:
{{Cquote|Vladimir Putin’s stressed-out Kremlin staffers — along with prominent politicians, governors and members of Russia’s elite — have been hitting the bottle harder than ever since the start of the war in Ukraine, according to a new report.
The independent Russian-language news website Verstka reported, citing interviews with multiple sources within Russia’s political and business circles, that alcoholism has become increasingly commonplace among Putin’s cronies.
“Let’s put in this way: Previously, not everyone within the president’s administration would start the day with a glass of vodka,” one person familiar with the matter told the outlet. “Now, I know many more people who do, and for some, a glass has turned into a bottle.”
Even some of the most senior officials are not immune to alcohol addiction: Verstka reported that former president Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, often writes his saber-rattling Telegram posts threatening the West with nuclear annihilation while deep in his cups.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2023/06/14/putins-staff-start-each-day-with-bottle-of-vodka-report/ Putin’s ‘stressed’ administration staff start each day with bottle of vodka: report], ''The New York Post'', June 14, 2023</ref>}}
On June 14, 2023, ''The Daily Mail'' reported in a story entitled ''Vladimir Putin's administration staff 'are starting the day with a bottle of vodka' and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is 'often drunk when he writes his apocalyptic threats of nuclear war''':
{{Cquote|That's according to the exiled Russian newspaper Verstka, which has spoken to several sources close to the administration.
The newspaper reports that consumption among Putin's closest associates has increased sharply since the invasion of Ukraine.
'Not everyone in the presidential administration started the day with a glass of vodka earlier,' one source told the newspaper. 'Now I know many more who do it, and with some the glass has become a bottle.'
Sources also claim Dmitry Medvedev, currently the deputy head of the country's security council, is drinking excessively.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12193309/Putins-administration-staff-starting-day-bottle-vodka.html ''Vladimir Putin's administration staff 'are starting the day with a bottle of vodka' and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is 'often drunk when he writes his apocalyptic threats of nuclear war'''], Daily Mail, June 14, 2023</ref>}}
==References==