>See the USA between 1980-1997 for a good start to the restoration.
>
>You mean the good old days? ;-)

It was a good start ruined in short order by narrow-minded power-hungry officials.

>We can't turn back the clock, we have to deal with today's realities and we need to fix the problem, not the blame, right?

We can and should turn back the clock as the solutions are there, written in history for all to see.
-Less overall regulation
-More proven regulation
-Lower taxes
-More individual freedom
-Less government

>So where is the preferable model functioning today-

Who's suggesting one exists right now?

>iow a state that copes better with today's circumstances including no Cold War but a couple of occupations underway,

There's still a few cold wars out there. Keep an eye on Russia/Georgia, Russia/Ukraine, India/Pakistan and Israel/Iran.

>imperialist China,

HUGE threat on the horizon. Anyone paying attention? I know Japan is.

>an expanding EU that already includes some previously Soviet nations,

Western Europe is in its socialist deaththrows with an EU focused power centralization thrust upon the peasants before the citizenry wakes up to the fact that they've had their freedom and wealth stolen while being bred and immigrated out of existence on their own continent.

>American manufacturing gifted to foreigners to satisfy shareholders and the public or out-competed by more capable overseas manufacturers

American manufacturing has been leaving this country due to punishing regulations, over-taxation and an unqualified, spoiled, lazy workforce. Mind you the American consumer has benefited greatly due to decreased prices.

>and a capitalist banking system that just tried to take us all out?

The solution was already found and implemented 80 years ago. The State re-created the circumstances which allowed wide-spread financial ruin and encouraged the demolition in the name of "reinvesting" and "fairness".