Quant5, it looks like we are basically in agreement, except you are the optimist, and I am the pessimist.
In the past we had great leaders waiting in the wings to rescue us from existential threats - Lincoln, Roosevelt, Reagan, because we had a populace decently educated, respectful of its culture, and embued with a sense of shared sacrifice.
Among the first guys who went down to the recruiting station after Pearl Harbor were America’s elites - Bush, Kennedy, Bob Feller, Jimmy Stewart. Those people don’t exist anymore, replaced by Obamas and Gates and Trumps who wouldn’t think of soiling themselves in such a way.
Go to the capital of any Third World hellhole - Lima, Nairobi, Jakarta - and you will find enclaves where the ruling elites live - beautiful homes, secured streets, modern conveniences. These people don’t give a damn what is happening out in the rest of their countries - they got theirs.
That is now happening here. Our elites are immunized from the disaster that is about to happen. In fact, they will accrue even greater wealth.
This election is theirs.
The next one will be ours.
We’re in total agreement but let’s examine why I feel optimistic for the long-term.
You’re correct about the WWII generation and subsequent good, American leadership for close to 50 years that we enjoyed.
The bad ones of course during this time were liberals and often conspired to work with communists or 5th columns of foreigners with their own agendas and consider both groups/philosophies are almost identical.
Now how was this great WWII generation created? Through the greed and excess of the Roaring Twenties! By tribulation by fire!
The Great Depression is what forced Americans by pain to watch one another’s backs as it was life or death.
No sooner had that generation begun recovering from the horrific economy, they then faced the horrors for survival during WWII.
What will occur in America in the short-term? Pain from greed and excesses of the immoral and lazy generation X and encouraged from the liberals of the 60’s who now run our nation.
War usually follows deep recessions or depressions, at least in the last 100 years and this may turn into global warfare with awful effects.
However, in 2030 Americans will be looking back at our generation calling us the 2nd Best Generation of People whom ever lived on our globe. Through trial and fire we shall unite and be unstoppable once again.
Personally, I prefer to not have to go through this excercise but human nature does as human nature is. As one man I may get it but as a collective, it took mankind 10,000 years just to invent the wheel :)