Russia's Putin says the West is on the decline. Agree?

What many seem not to pay attention to in the comment section is that this decline is a structural one. Not one simply because Obama is 'running' things (although him, bush or the others were instrumental). This has little to do with politics of said liberalism vs. said so-called conservatism and more do with an out of control financial oligarchs and a defunct government, that has infected the other institutions, like a virus.

This structural decline deals with the fundamentals of the western economic structure. This tide of corporatism and corrupt banking play a significant role. ( see the E.U and the US.). It also deals with the fading away/destruction of civil liberties ( massive surveillance state, warrant-less wiretapping and other 'nanny state' measure), the rule of law, checks and balances in government, as well as, an excessive empire are just a few things to be said.

This has been gradually set into place for the last 30 to 40 years with the shift of the banking sector from center on industrial expansion to finance capitalism and the F.I.R.E. Economy and the service sector. This new kind of economy was given fuel by zealous central bankers and their policies of currency manipulation, artificial interest rates and monetary stimulus; all of which creates this debt- based economic paradigm we live in today. Paradigm of trillion dollar derivatives markets and over leveraging and the financial pillaging of entire countries. Such markets with the power to sink the world economy.

Then, you take into consideration that the serial bubbles in the 30 to 40 years have essential led to the shrinking middle-class, the growth of permanent underclass and the stagnation of upward mobility.

Not to mention, you have a nefarious political class running a defunct and bankrupt government, that they help make, bought and paid for by corporate interest, elected by lulled masses obsessed with 'bread and circuses' and high on infantile partisanship and irrelevant idealogical dogma, The same populous that adores the same B.S. Kabuki theater, that is the presidential and congressional election cycles. The same crowed that gravitate to playing the "lesser of two evils' game that basically amounts to two steps back 1 step forward, in a vain attempt to produce change. They either ignore or forget the fact that the same financial and political special interests back both candidates and they are, therefore, beholden to these interests. Average citizens be damned.

All the while, the nation is being killed by the vast political corruption, a corporatist financial and governmental cloak of technocratic underbelly and the relative societal decay.

When you combine all of these factors, you can easily see the decline of the U.S. and the west, in general.

When you look at world history, it's pretty much a standing rule that powers begin with generally humble beginnings. Rise to a position of power and influence. Then decline only to be replaced to the next one that arises. It's a natural part of the way the world/universe works.
It's a gradual progression usually and the denizens of the powerhouse on top at any given time generally convince themselves and truly believe that they/their nations are in a position of permanence. Often they believe that they are even favored by God and ordained to remain in this position forever. But history is cyclical and whether we like it or not the wheel does keep moving.
Two thousand years ago, Rome was the center of the world and no one at that time would have ever imagined that it would ever be any other way.After that it was the Ottomans. In fact empirtes have routinely arisen and declined over the long history of our inhabited world. Egypt, Babalon, Judea, Alexander, Rome, Turkey, China, Spain, England, Russia and many more. All rose in power and influence. All were the center of the world. At least in their own eyes. And all declined after a time. In some cases many centuries, but were ultimately replaced by the next one in line.
Now I'm sure Mr. Putin was just spouting rhetoric designed to inflame sensibilities and promote despair and resignation. Nonetheless, it's the naturtal order. It will happen eventually. Of course "eventually' comes a lot soonert for some than others.

I appreciate your steadfast patriotism. But this is a thing that goes far beyond any one presidency or even a handful of them. All nations/empires have and will fight wars. And their people will always revere their brave veterans for their sacrifices and courage. Please keep in mind though that no one nation ever has or ever will be "top dog" forever. It's un-natural to even assume that one would. That doesn't mean that we should go down quietly or without a fight. And we can console ourselves with the knowledge that whoever supplants this great nation as the worlds most influential power will themselves in turn one day face a similar decline. Also keep in mind that great ideals and deeds generally live on long after the dissolution of the nation that boasted them. Ancient Greece gave us thg democracy that we have based our own existence on. The great and heroic deeds of great historical figures were virtually all carried out by citizens of nations that no longert exist or at least are far from powerful or influential. Yet we remember them and even base out own ideals on many of them.
Even when the US is no longer the world authority it has been for so long now, the great deeds, ideals and brave people of this nation will be remembered and will continue to ellicit influence in the heartts and minds of the worlds people for many many centuries to come.
Change is uncertain and often contested. But it will and must happen. It's natural and I think it's just part of the overall plan of the great creator.