From The Guardian.
The land of optimism is in the dumps, but refuses to accept how it got there.
They cite three primary reasons for the current malaise in the U.S.. The economy. The war. Loss of faith in the political class. However, the problems go deeper than that.
For the central problem is not that they were lied to – though that of course is a problem – but that they have constantly found some of these lies more palatable than the truth. Bush may have exploited the more problematic aspects of this optimism. But he did not create them. Enough of the American public had to be prepared to meet him halfway to make his agenda possible.
Now the reality of the deception and self-deception is becoming clear to nearly everyone, what will it take to make the political class act in a way that follows the will of the people?
“what will it take to make the political class act in a way that follows the will of the people?”
You’ll have a long wait for that one, historic eveidence is not on your side.
“the problems go deeper than that.”
Indeed. Depression has little to do with outside circumstances and much to do with faith– or, for the more pragmatic, hope. Our nation suffers from many challenges, but the greatest of these is probably the belief that as a nation, we ARE God (or at least need no other). National humility is notably absent. We’re in denial about our faults and, unable to admit them, are therefore unable to solve them.