American politics, moreover, remains gridlocked over budgetary issues, and compromise will be even more difficult on the eve of the 2012 election, when Republicans hope that economic problems will help them unseat President Barack Obama. In these circumstances, many are predicting America’s decline, especially relative to China.
然而美国的政治却依然在预算事务上僵持不下，同时因为2012年总统大选将近，各方妥协也变得越发困难——共和党人都寄望于经济问题能助他们一臂之力，把奥巴马赶下台。在这个情况下，许多方面都预测美国都将走向衰退——尤其是在中国的映照之下。