[forinti]

The US has a long tradition of arm-twisting to forward its business interests.

This habit is starting to do more harm than good (to them) and they should try to focus on innovating the way China does.

[shimman]

I think you mean this habit has benefit no one outside of a small elite moneyed interests that want to protect their fief.

US foreign policy does not benefit Americans, it benefits the elites.

[forinti]

Absolutely. Look at the Portuguese Empire: even at the end most Portuguese were poor and many had to emigrate.

Most British had a low standard of living going into the XX century. Engels' report to Parliament painted a bleak picture of the standard of living in Britain at the peak of the British Empire.