America still works

Prospect Magazine ^ | February 2008 | Michael Lind

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The US economy is slowing down, but the long-term trends for the country are more favourable than many think. There has also been a sharp improvement in many of America's social pathologies, such as violent crime and drug abuse

Anyone who reads the serious press about the condition of the US might be excused for believing that the country is headed towards a series of deep crises. This impression is exacerbated by economic slowdown and by the presidential primaries, in which candidates announce bold plans to rescue the country from disaster. But even in more normal times there are three ubiquitous myths about America that make the country seem weaker and more chaotic than it really is. The first myth, which is mainly a conservative one, is that racial and ethnic rivalries are tearing America apart. The second myth, which is mainly a liberal one, is that America will soon be overwhelmed by religious fundamentalists. The third myth, an economic one beloved of centrists, is that the retirement of the baby boomers will bankrupt the country because of runaway social security entitlement costs.

America does, of course, have many problems, such as spiralling healthcare costs and a decline in social mobility. Yet the truth is that apart from the temporary frictions caused by current immigration from Latin America, the US is more integrated than ever. Racial and cultural diversity is in long-term decline, as a result of the success of the melting pot in merging groups through assimilation and intermarriage—and many of the country's infamous social pathologies, from violent crime to teenage drug use, are also seeing improvements. Americans are far more religious than Europeans, but the "religious right" is concentrated among white southern Protestants. And there is no genuine long-term entitlement problem in the US.

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[peeps36]

America works but our politicians are doing a good job of screwing it up. This writer might think there’s nothing wrong but I see serious problems in our future if we stay on our current path. What will happen if we legalize 10 to 15 million illegals while we still have a system that elects candidates based on who gives who the most freebies? The pandering politicians are going to destroy this country if we don’t put a stop to it. We should start with term limits and rid ourselves of the money grubbing whores who are stinking up the place.

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It’s buried in the article, but this author feels that the loss of religious belief in America is a good thing.

I don’t.

There should be bumper sticker: “ If you don’t pray, thank a government school!”

[Lijahsbubbe]

Yet the truth is that apart from the temporary frictions caused by current immigration from Latin America, the US is more integrated than ever.

The author claims to print the truth, and doesn't say "illegal"