Americans, do you think we will ever become a better nation?

[jasco]

We have many problems, some are past problems and others are present problems. Our history is truly a amazing yet brutal, extremely bloody history. Will we ever be able to move on?

[razelove]

It's certainly possible, though with our current trend unlikely. Left gets more aggressive and finds more nuanced issues, right grows more entrenched, both sides give vague and overt threats.

Forgetting, or getting over history isn't the answer either. Tearing down statues did nothing, nor banning books.

For me the missing puzzle piece seems to be an identity as "American". We don't have that, there's no trait to aspire to, or be proud of and say that's what makes me American. Our current identity is as fat, lazy consumers and drug addicts. It's the only shared identity we have across race, sex, religion, ideology, what have you.

If something, anything positive really, could be promoted, like Koreans promoted K-Pop and nationalism, we could trend upwards on production, education, eradicating recidivism, you name it.

We just lack that thing, that spark that can unify regardless of personal beliefs and make us feel like even wanting to be part of a whole. I think mandatory service could fill that gap until someone else has a better idea. Anyway, it's cheaper for someone to join the military and have a chance rather than jail and/or promote to using meth or fentanyl. It's stopgap, no doubt, but I'm not part of any big thinktank and lack any better ideas.

[Soteris]

The highest point in US history was the US constitution. Not because it is truly that special, but because for all the promises and aspirations outlined in that document it has never actually materialized. From the day of the founding until today USA has at best only moved closer towards the promises outlined in that text and in a way it is improving even though it is falling well and truly short by international standards.

Will they ever get off their ass and make meaningful changes? Perhaps, although I personally think only real pain can "motivate" USA to change their ways because as a country they are far too arrogant and proud to admit they need to fix their flaws. In a way they are not alone with this issue but most of the major countries that used to be like this such as the Japanese and the Germans thought better off it after losing a world war or two. Unless USA wants to be the next Rome I think they need a national defeat that crushes their nationalism.

[Agape93]

No, we blew it.

[jasco]

How so?

[Agape93]

Slowly but surely we went from progressing well, valuing intelligence and gaining full human rights. Now we are backtracking on all of it, and at best, it'll take decades to undo the damage, much less progress. And I don't wager humans will survive that long.

[jasco]

What do you think was the cause for it all

[Agape93]

Arrogance and religious zealotry.

[jasco]

really? whats wrong with religious zealotry? and how are we arrogant?

[Agape93]

You're joking, right?

[jasco]

I am asking your opinion on it? I am not saying I don't know what the words mean. I just want you to tell me how we are that in your own words?

[Agape93]

Religious zealots have for centuries stymied cultural progression, enacted atrocities and have subjugated those not under its thumb already. It is by nature opposed to free agency of the self.

The way we peacock on the world stage. We act as if we are the best country on earth, we lie about it constantly. We have some of the lowest literacy rates among developed nations, one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, we have one of the least amounts rights and what little ones we have are routinely eroded or removed, we have less freedoms than majority of other developed nations etc.
That is by and large due to a demonization of knowledge, a pandering to casuistry and the earlier religious zealotry.

[jasco]

I see

[OlderAndWiser]

Depends on what you mean by "move on." Regardless of how perfect a culture becomes, there will always be people who see room for improvement and call for change. I think that will never fade into history.

[jasco]

move on as we are more able to stop such thins from happening as often as they occur.

[OlderAndWiser]

I think human nature is such that greed and lust for power will always be a part of humans. We will always need to protect our freedoms with a military presence and there will always be a criminal element that requires law enforcement.

If you give every US citizen one million dollars today, in less than a year, over 50% of them will have spent all their money. There will always be some people who are better at earning and accumulating money and the appeal to class envy will alway be a part of politics.

[jasco]

I see

[OlderAndWiser]

Just my opinion but we have a few thousands years of history in which that has not changed at all.

[lightbulb27]

some people have, some have not and drag the past to present. I can see why... because people were wronged, cheated, etc.. The most fortunate people are the ones that lost it all somewhere else and come here with nothing. They are totally free, totally motivated and are often, very successful when provided resources. The ones that were here, are passed over so often, it's sad. It's really just perspective of hope.

That's the pathway out is hope, starting in the family to the community and outwards. There's a reason some places are fantastic places to live and others are not... the people made great places to live built on shared values.

other nations history is as bad if not worse. China... ugh, Germany... ugh. Africa... ugh. Dubai... ugh. There's some better areas than others.

[NamerOfStars]

"Brutal" and "extremely bloody" compared to who? The American Revolution was a nashy affair, but it was downright polite next to the French, and almost saintry beside the Russian. Our colonial history is hostile- unless you compare us to the Europeans. Our laws bigoted? Less than those of the Chinese. Our society is bigoted? Less than that of the Egyptians. We had widespread slavery, but is was downright gentle compared to that practiced by the Arabs- and we gave it up sooner, too.

Holding only one nation up to abstract ideals is inevitably going to bake it look bad, and while no reasonable person would say there's no room for improvement, the only reason we can be said to be doing worse than average is that we're more powerful.

[BCRanger10]

I would love that. The problem is that there are way too many people in positions of great influence in politics, academia, and culture who are hell-bent on convincing Americans that every facet of American life is racist, that it's a continuation of or a product of slavery, that America's past sins are still an active part of her life today, and other such nonsense. Yes, America has some serious sins in her past, but there have been heroic figures who stood against these things.

I think America can be better than she is now. The problem is that there are a lot of people pushing so-called "forward-thinking progressive" ideals, but they cling to the darker parts of America's history as if they're still the present. It's disheartening and, if I may be completely honest, downright annoying.

[Oigit]

I don't. But it comes from looking at our history as a species. Humanity can be and a lot of times is it's own worst enemy. We have a huge issue with working against our own interest. Not only as a large group, but as individuals as well. So at this point I'm just doing what I can do to add to established issues or create new ones for myself and others. Because in general it's all anyone can really do.

[Better_off_here]

it takes a chance at us trying to make us better first.
we need to teach others that being racist is wrong that we can live in harmony, that we are people.
but it seems that we do not want to change we are in a place where it will take a lot of hard work and a lot of change in us to make this world better.

[CloudMassacre]

I don’t think we will. And if we do, it’s not going to be better enough to survive

[jasco]

How so

[CloudMassacre]

I believe climate change and climate migration will be too great for America as a country or most other countries to handle. I don’t want to just doom dump but look up Wet Bulb Temperature. Around the equator it will soon become too hot and humid for human bodies to survive because the air will be so thick, sweat won’t be able to distribute heat. So like 2 billion people will be displaced over time by that. Then the coastlines are going to be encroached by the oceans displacing a huge amount of people. We can’t mitigate climate change in time, we’re too tribal to see eachother as HUMAN BEINGS, so for those reasons, I believe we’re pretty fucked

[Juxtapose]

No, America is only going to get worse and worse until it perishes.

[jasco]

How so?

[Juxtapose]

Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton opened the floodgates by deregulating on a massive scale and allowing corporations to buy the government wholesale.

None of our institutions are trustworthy, they are only more trustworthy than anarchy.

[Juxtapose]

To be clear, I think every nation is destined to die and every single one of them has serious issues that will lead to their downfall.

[humanearth]

Nope, its only get worse and worse. Its going to be really bad for humans once the one world government takes over 100%

[Dargil]

Yes, but it will take decades. The Left will have to be subdued. I am in favor of a Second Amendment solution when the time is nigh. Many of these deranged Leftists cannot be rehabilitated and need to meet Room Temperature.

[NorthwestRider]

Yeah if people stop having meltdowns over abortions and trans people and start fixing the inner cities, the roads, the bridges, the Healthcare system, the school system, end the wars, etc

[exitseven]

Yes, Amarica is a work in progress. It will get better.

[OldWorldOrder]

America is not a nation. It is an empire, made up of multiple nations.

The sooner it is partitioned into separate nation-states, the better.

[jasco]

what do you mean?

[FunkyMonkee]

Sure! If Trump or DiSantis gets elected. It's GONNA take a long time for them to clean up this incredible mess that Joe made but, it could happen, again.

[OddBeMe]

By what metric? Crime has been decreasing every year this century. Living standards and lifespans are rising. But wealth inequality is getting worse. So depends...

[jasco]

Alright

[Snakeyes7]

I really hope so.

[crmoore]

Eventually

[jasco]

How so

[crmoore]

I think humans in general just get better over time. I don't think America will be any different.

[jasco]

Really, yet we constantly do the same things over and over

[crmoore]

Yeah, we do. But over time that changes.

[jasco]

Not really, it just appears that we do but history says otherwise

[crmoore]

I mean, in some aspects I agree. But you have to admit, there's much more acceptance, less killing, a greater average quality of life.

While there's plenty to criticize humanity for, I do think things have been getting better overall.

[Anonymous]

No, America is over.

[jasco]

How so?