Written by Frank Li
America is deeply in trouble. “We the People” simply do not know what to do, other than periodically casting our vote of “no confidence” to elect someone very different to be President – first Barack Obama, then Donald Trump … Unfortunately, neither has worked out. So, America just chose to settle back on a 78-year-old man named “Joe Biden”.
Will President Biden work out for America?
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Yes, he will, for restoring a normalcy that most Americans want immediately!
No, he is unlikely to work out on political reforms that America needs desperately!
What, then, are the political reforms that America desperately needs?
Before I answer the question next week, let me conduct a deep diagnosis first, for which we need to go all the way back to the founding days …
1. How was America founded?
America was founded by/of/for the rich!
For more, read: What Is the American Revolution, Anyway (Version 3)?
2. How has America changed over the past 200 years?
Despite all the considerable progress made over the past 200 years, from the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, America remains essentially unchanged. For example, America remains by/of/for the rich today!
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 colonial states became even more fiercely independent, demanding a weak Federal government in the name of self-governing after deposing the British king.
4. Top three issues in 1801
All three issues became worse by 1801 as follows:
- Slavery: Slave trade exacerbated after 1783, because of the huge desire for more “free labor”, thanks to the surge in cotton (vs. sugar) 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 2020
Let’s examine the three issues 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.
For more, read: Racism in America.
5.2 Gun ownership
It has become a major means 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.
It may require another civil war to seriously address this issue. For more, read America: Guns vs. Slavery.
5.3 Weak Federal government
Covid-19 has made it abundantly clear: The Federal government is not only weak, but also non-functional, totally! As a result, many Americans died unnecessarily, as highlight below.
For many Americans still alive, the American dream has been reduced to “let’s just make it through this Winter before the vaccines become available.”
6. Discussion
All the three issues are big, with the government being the biggest, because it takes a strong and effective government to deal with the other two!
The image below highlights the key difference between China and America.
Why is that?
China has heavily invested in governance over the past 2,000 years at least, while America was set on a wrong footing at the inception!
The image below highlights China’s foundation laid 2,000 years ago.
The image below highlights America’s deficit in governance, on a wrong footing set out by Thomas Jefferson!
Why so critical of Thomas Jefferson?
It’s business!
For more, read Correctly Assessing Thomas Jefferson.
7. Tough reality check
Read the image below and think hard!
Still wondering why America is so deeply in trouble?
Wonder not – The government matters! The American President matters!
As a matter of fact, America should feel lucky to be still alive, given such a long streak of bad Presidents!
8. Closing
America, reform our failing political system as I have suggested (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?), or become an also-ran, second to China!
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