Haters

In this book I look back at several decades in the late 20th Century and describe them as adolescent growing pains. After WW II America was on a winning streak, amassing fortunes from innovations in manufacturing, agriculture, medicine and science. We sent men to the Moon, we saved millions of lives with medical inventions, with labor saving machines, and we learned how to get the best out of the worlds largest and most diverse "e;Melting Pot"e; of cultures immigrating from every corner of the planet. It hasn't always been pretty, but by the turn of the century, there was no doubt as to which country was the Leader of the Free World. But something happened on the way to Nirvana. Ever since the attack on the World Trade Centers in New York on September 11, 2001, our fortunes have turned around. The evidence keeps piling up that America has lost its edge, or worse, is teetering on the edge of collapse. In 2016, Donald Trump said he would "e;Make America Great Again"e; and then 4 years later, challenger Joe Biden claimed he would "e;Build Back Better"e; after the COVID Pandemic nearly destroyed the country. Both political slogans illustrate the conflicting cultural impulses of the nation: the Democrats from Jimmy Carter (A Leader For A Change), to Bill Clinton (For People, For Change) have appealed to those who seek change. Republicans from Reagan (Morning In America) to Trump, want to seek greatness. Democrats play on the perceived personal unfairness of their opponents (racism, unfair taxation, discrimination, hatred) while Republicans appeal to the aspirations of the voters to achieve more success (lower taxes and unemployment, lower interest rates, cheaper energy). Political slogans have changed little in 75 years, but the public mood has. Instead of working to improve economic opportunities and the quality of life for all Americans exclusive of their race, gender or background, to reduce our national debt, refurbish our roads and bridges, and to make home ownership more accessible for young folks, our political parties are focusing on placating single issue groups, paying off student loans, and rectifying inequities caused by the racist Founding Fathers back in 1776. Instead of unifying our people, they are dividing us into waring factions. I think Americans hate being treated like pawns on a chess board. The efforts to end racism as we know it have utterly failed and the levels of social and racial discomfort are at their highest since the Civil War. This book doesn't offer all the answers, but if I ask the right questions, maybe it will provoke readers to demand them of our leaders.