Is America an ideal? Yes, but when an ideal is too remote, it becomes a lie!
America is a pile of lies, from the purported reasons behind the American Revolution (What is the American Revolution, anyway?) to “Stop the Steal”. It’s finally collapsing, thanks to the shaky foundation laid 245 years ago …
1. How was America founded?
America was founded by/of/for the rich, with money behind everything, especially in politics.
America became a republic by accident. It was neither a reason nor a goal throughout the American Revolution. For more, read What is the American Revolution, anyway?
A republic is socialistic by definition, as everything is [supposed to be] for the “public”. America is no exception. For example, American slavery is one of the worst forms of socialism: socialism supporting capitalism with free labor! For more, read American Political Taxonomy Simplified.
2. How has America changed over time?
Despite all the considerable progress made over the past 200 years, from the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, America remains essentially unchanged. As a result, America remains by/of/for the rich, with money behind everything, especially in politics.
What about socialism vs. capitalism in America?
MLK said it the best …
Now, let’s look into some details …
3. Top three issues in 1783
At the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1783, America inherited two big issues from Britain:
- Slavery.
- Gun ownership.
Additionally, America created a big new issue for itself as a result of the American Revolution: 13 colonies became even more fiercely independent after deposing the British King, demanding a weak Federal government in the name of self-governing.
4. Top three issues in 1801
All three issues became worse by 1801 as follows:
- Slavery: Slave trade was exacerbated after 1783, because of the huge desire for more “free labor”, thanks to the surge in cotton (vs. tobacco) production.
- Gun ownership: Thanks to the Second Amendment.
- Weak Federal government: The debate between Democratic-Republicans and Federalists was practically over after Thomas Jefferson won the 1800 election – See image below.
5. Top three issues in 2022
Let’s examine them one by one …
5.1 Slavery
America seriously addressed the issue with a Civil War, without really resolving it to date. The image below offers a highlight.
5.2 Gun ownership
It has become a major means (if not the source) of violence, “black” (43 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago this weekend) and “white” (White supremacists remain deadliest US terror threat, Homeland Security report says). The image below highlights one example, which is uniquely American …
As a result, it may require another civil war to seriously address this issue.
5.3 Weak Federal government
The Federal government is worse than being weak – It’s dysfunctional, totally! Two examples:
- Covid-19: More than 900,000 Americans died over the past two years, many unnecessarily (Nearly every death from Covid-19 is preventable).
- The MIC (Military-Industrial Complex): It has corrupted the U.S. government to the core (America’s Evil Military Industrial Complex).
5.4 Summary
All three issues are big, with the Federal government being the biggest, as it takes a strong and effective Federal government to address the other two.
6. Discussion
Okay, America remains essentially unchanged over the past 200 years. Does that explain why America is so deeply in trouble today?
No, not completely …
Here is why America is so deeply in trouble:
- America was set out on the wrong footing at its inception!
- America was set out on a wrong path at its inception!
Let me elaborate on each …
6.1 America was set out on the wrong footing at its inception!
The image below highlights the main reason.
Largely because of it, America has, over the past 200 years, focused little on governance, which is everything for a country built to last. This should be very obvious, if you know anything about Confucius – See image below.
6.2 America was set out on a wrong path at its inception!
The image below highlights the main reason.
Largely because of it, America has, over the past 200 years, been single-mindedly pursuing voting rights, without meritocracy, which is key for a country built to last. This, too, should be very obvious, if you know anything about Confucius – See the image below.
7. More discussion
Two basic questions:
- What is wrong with America’s pursuit of voting rights?
- What about the huge prosperity in America?
Let me answer them one by one …
7.1 What is wrong with America’s pursuit of voting rights?
Significant progress has indeed been made over the past 200 years on voting rights, but mostly in a wrong direction. The image below offers one perspective.
Bottom line: The image below is a harsh reality check.
The image below is simply reasoning …
7.2 What about the huge prosperity in America?
America has indeed created huge prosperity unprecedented in human history. But that was largely because of unfettered capitalism and rugged individualism, on top of socialism for the rich.
Still wondering why America is (1) so polarized that everything has become political and (2) so divided that everything is subject to debate?
Wonder not!
There are two systems in America: one for the rich and the other for the poor, for everything important from the economy to justice.
Bottom line: America is becoming ungovernable from governance-less. Three recent events (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., Killing of George Floyd, and American carnage: how Trump’s mob ran riot in the Capitol) have made it abundantly clear.
For more, read American Carnage vs. American Revolution.
8. Still more discussion
Two more basic questions:
- What is America today, anyway?
- Why are you so critical of America?
Let me answer them one by one …
8.1 What is America today, anyway?
Two perspectives …
8.1.1 America is a great country without a working government!
The image below highlights America’s epic failure in basic governance.
The image below is simply reasoning.
8.1.2 America is an empire without an emperor!
It is held together by a tried-&-failed ideology called “democracy”, as shown by the image below.
The image below is simply reasoning.
The image below is a reality check – American democracy is actually a weapon of mass destruction, both at home and abroad!
8.2 Why are you so critical of America?
To save it with my pen (or keyboard, to be more precise)! For more, read My American Dream Has Come True!
More profoundly, 200 years may be a long time for most Americans, but not for this Chinese-American, who was “cultured” with a long Chinese view of [almost] everything, as highlighted below.
Bottom line: America has been Jeffersonian so far, but Jeffersonian America has run its course, very likely.
Specifically, saying democracy worked in America in the 1990s is like saying communism worked in the USSR in the 1950s – Both were passing fads!
9. Summary
So, what is America, anyway?
Two extreme answers:
- America is an ideal. But when an ideal is too remote, it becomes a lie, like communism!
- America a lie!
I used to believe “America is an ideal”, but now I believe “America is a lie”!
Now, a ridiculously important question: President Biden vs. President Trump – Who is worse?
President Trump was bad – American voters rejected him via the 2020 election! But President Biden can be even worse! An analogy – “going out kicking & screaming”:
- President Trump lost the 2020 election but refused to accept it, going out kicking & screaming, taking America down with him.
- The U.S. is losing its global hegemony, thanks to the rise of Russia and China, but the Biden administration is refusing to accept it, going out kicking & screaming, taking the world down with it (What does Putin want and will he get it?)!
Bottom line: At this pace, there is a clear path for Trump to return to the White House in 2024. Can you handle it?
10. Closing
Okay, America is deeply in trouble. What is the solution?
Reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline)!
Please sit back and enjoy the excellent video below.
Click on the image to watch the video on YouTube.
