Is there any hope for the United States of America?

[ALewis30]

For the mess the nation is in, is there any hope for it?

[nightdrot]

Of course there is. A little historical perspective helps.

In truth, we've been here before. In the 1960s and 70s, we had an era of race riots, a low intensity war, campus radicalism, assassinations, populism, "do your own thing," and political extremism. One need only mention Kent State, the SLA, the Black Panthers, the Kennedy assassinations, and the Martin Luther King assassination, Charles Manson or the year 1968 to be reminded of the recent past.

Then there was the small matter of a civil war. Four years of war fought to the nth degree. The result was over 650,000 Americans, killed at each other's hands. That is an ocean of blood that Americans did not even match in either world war, indeed in both world wars combined.

Speaking of which, there was the country during World War I. Aside from an unprecedented curtailment of civil liberties by the government, as Americans watched warily for German spies, there were cases of mobs tarring and feathering those they thought guilty of siding with the enemy.

Even in World War II, the so-called good war, when Americans were united by Pearl Harbor, there was bloodiest race riot in American history in 1943. Also in 1943, the United States lost more hours of work to strikes and other labor unrest - some of which became violent - than in any other year in American history. This, when the nation was rallying to defeat the Axis powers.

That is not to say that these are not difficult times. Certainly the effects of technology may be magnifying some of the splintering forces in the culture. That technology makes every event seem larger and unprecedented because we just don't read or hear about them, but see them. Further, the technology reinforces a ethic of instant gratification and puts every person in their own mental universe.

This has created a cultural environment of mutual incomprehension, heightened emotionalism and the discounting of reason over feeling. The latter being a problem in the best of times, but in the current context it is arguable that the nation has conferred upon itself more rights than it can handle.

As Burke said, "Men have no right to that which is not reasonable." A difficult argument to make in a culture that is ardent about rights, but no so much about responsibilities.

Still, as Adam Smith said, "There is much ruin in a nation." These things come and go. The tumult of the 60s and 70s gave us the relative social peace of the 80s and 90s. We've been here before.

The same applies to the world. Imperfect beings cannot - and never will - create perfection. Ever it will ebb and flow. Again as compared to what?

Is the world more or less "messed up" then when Jews were being thrown into ovens and humans were killing each other by the thousands daily. Again, perspective helps.

Besides, as John Cardinal Henry Newman said, "Spring passes into summer and through autumn into winter. Only the more surely, by its ultimate return, to triumph over the grave toward which it resolutely hastens from its first hour. We mourn over the blossoms of April because they are to whither. But we know that withal that April is one day to have its revenge upon November, by the revelation of that solemn circle that never stops. Which teaches us in our height of hopes ever to be sober. And in our depths of desolation, never to despair."

[WindAtMyBack]

I've watched some things unfold for over 40 years. I saw some serious shit coming, but I had hope for a long time. It was more like wishful thinking. But I finally gave up about ten years ago.

I think the country is going down hill, and it's going down hill fast. I don't expect it to recover. It will continue to be around, but not nearly what it used to be.

[mamamai]

Yes there is. It’s gone be rocky for awhile, but it will calm down

[Anonymous]

There's always hope. The nation will grow, change, and progress. The world always does. But growth comes with growing pains. It will be hard, it will be painful. It may not still be the United States of America, by the time it's done. But it will be better.

[BeMuse]

It's not like we haven't been here before...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kakFDUeoJKM

[OddBeMe]

Only if Trump is imprisoned for making millions off the presidency. If he’s not, we’re officially an oligarchy.

[ManHater]

Only a Trump win will save the usa from the democrats who want to destroy the usa and society.

[888theGreat]

Dollar will fail, no doubt , but a new type of currency will be created

[Ranasal_Gansen]

Everything in history is temporary.

[Quackthulu]

At this point? No, probably not.

[JCT666]

In regards to what exactly?

[NorthwestRider]

Yes if we elect populist progressives

[SamB233]

Not if Trump wins :(

[mamamai]

Funny I think the opposite haha

[SamB233]

@mamamai Wow he is downplaying his condition He lies constantly and he is scared he will lose so is telling Americans Not To Vote He is a grade A Dick!! He also is a sexist white sepremicist to top it all off Not the best resume!!

[mamamai]

I’ve seen Biden lie and fear mongol more then Trump. I can’t stand the people who are bullying Trump supporters and police. Trumps bills (excluding a couple) has been a driving force for my vote for him. I don’t think his way of talking is very convincing, but his actions have

[SamB233]

@mamamai Biden wants to continue pushing funds to the police and just educate them more to continue keeping people safe he talked about that in the first presidential debate! He may have talked about it more if Trump didn't keep making fun of his kids, his family, and keep god damn interrupting him for a frickin monet liek it was painful to watch!!!

[mamamai]

How do you know what Biden wants he says contradictions and even won’t answer questions about wether or not he’ll pack the court. Now there is video and email evidence that Hunter Biden was doing dirty business with Ukraine and the business man even said thanks for introducing me to your father. That is a concern, it’s not just picking on his kids.