What’s Wrong With America, Really?

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 worked out. So, America just chose to settle back on a 78-year-old man named “Joe Biden”.

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Will President Biden work out for America?

1. Yes, he will, for restoring some normalcy that most Americans want immediately.
2. No, he will not (or he is highly unlikely to) work out on the political reforms that America desperately needs.

Why, then, is America so deeply in trouble?

Let’s go back all the way 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, today America is still by/of/for the rich!

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:

1. Slavery.
2. 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:

1. Slavery: Slave trade exacerbated after 1783, because of the huge desire for more “free labor”, thanks to the surge in cotton (vs. sugar) production.
2. Gun ownership: Thanks to the Second Amendment.
3. 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 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.

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 dysfunctional, totally, especially at the very top! As a result, almost 300,000 Americans died unnecessarily, as highlight below.

5.4 Summary

All three are big issues, with the government being the biggest, because it takes a strong and effective 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 really!

Here is why America is so deeply in trouble:

1. America was set out on a wrong footing at its inception.
2. America was set out on a wrong path at its inception.

Let me elaborate on each …

6.1 America was set out on a wrong footing at the inception

The image below highlights the main reason.

Largely because of that, America has, over the past 200 years, focused little on governance, which is the key to any country built-to-last. This should be very obvious, if you know anything about Confucius – See image below.

For more, read: Confucius on Governance.

6.2 America was set out on a wrong path at the inception

The image below highlights the main reason.

Largely because of that, America has, over the past 200 years, been single-mindedly pursuing the voting rights, without meritocracy, which is the key to any country built-to-last. This, too, should be very obvious, if you know anything about Confucius – See image below.

For more, read: Confucius on Governance.

7. More discussion

Two basic questions:

1. What is wrong with America’s pursuit of the voting rights?
2. What about the huge prosperity in America?

Let me answer them one by one …

7.1 What is wrong with America’s pursuit of the voting rights?

Significant progress has indeed been made over the past 200 years on the voting rights, but mostly in a wrong direction! The image below offers one perspective. For more, read: Voting Is Overrated!

Bottom line: The image below is a harsh reality check.

7.2 What about the huge prosperity in America?

America has indeed created huge prosperity unprecedent in human history. But that was largely because of unfettered capitalism and rugged individualism.

Moreover, America has actually been having two separate systems (i.e. one for the rich and one for the poor) for everything important, from the economy to justice.

Bottom line: America does not have a working government for all (i.e. rich and poor). Two recent events (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and Killing of George Floyd) have made it abundantly clear.

8. Still more discussion

Two more basic questions:

1. What is America today, anyway?
2. Why are you so critical of America?

Let me answer them one by one …

8.1 What is America today, anyway?

America is a great country, without a working government [anymore]! For more, read: America: A Great Country Without A Working Government?

America is an empire, without an emperor. It is held together by a tried-&-failed ideology called “democracy”! For more, read: America: An Empire Without an Emperor?

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 (Version 3)!

More profoundly, 200 years may be a long time for most Americans, but not for this Chinese-American, who was trained 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!

For more, read: Has Jeffersonian America Run Its Course (Version 2)?

9. Closing

Okay, America is deeply in trouble.

What, then, is the solution?

Read: Introduction to “History 2.0”.