What is America, Anyway? (V4)

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?

We must 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? (V5).

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 1863 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 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:

1. Slavery: Slave trade was 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 (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. 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. As a result, more than 400,000 Americans died on President Trump’s watch, many unnecessarily (40 Percent of U.S. COVID Deaths Could Have Been Averted If It Weren’t for Trump: Report). The image below highlights America’s epic failure in handling Covid-19.

For more, read Covid-19: East Asia vs. The World.

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:

1. America was set out on the 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 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 key to any country built to last. This should be very obvious if you know anything about Confucius (Confucius on Governance), highlighted by the image below.

6.2 America was set out on the 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 any meritocracy. Meritocracy is key to any country built to last. This, too, should be very obvious, if you know anything about Confucius (Confucius on Governance), highlighted by the image below.

7. More discussion

Two basic questions:

1. What is wrong with America’s pursuit of 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 voting rights?

Significant progress has indeed been made over the past 200 years on voting rights, but mostly in the 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 unprecedented in human history. But that was largely due to unfettered capitalism and rugged individualism.

Going beyond skin deep, you should see that 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. The current K-shape recovery has just made it much more obvious (Joe Biden said the economic recovery is ‘K-shaped.’ Here’s what it means).

Bottom line: America does not have a working government for all (i.e., rich and poor). 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.

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?

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.

For more, read America: A Great Country Without A Working Government?

8.1.2 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 “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.

For more, read Has Jeffersonian American Run Its Course?

9. Closing

Okay, America is deeply in trouble.

What is the solution?

Read: Two Solutions for America.