But you wonder if our system of govt works anymore? We are the world's biggest economy by far. We have a military that could probably handily defeat the rest of the world's combined, even if you squared it (bit of an exaggeration there for effect, but you know what I'm saying). For all the talk of wealth disparity, much of which I agree with (like I do concerns over the deficit - our capacity isn't limitless), take a look at the poorest of the poor here vs virtually anywhere else on earth. Our currency is the world's benchmark.

"Democracy is the absolute worst form of govt, except for every other option." It's a perfect statement. And social media, the Trump presidency itself and it's shaky relationship with reality, and really the growing dominance of extremes since the '90s in both parties, make things much tougher. In fact I think the end of earmarks, which was once the greatest threat to our deficits in so many of our eyes, is part of the reason compromise has become so hard. Horse trading had its benefits, and as we've seen, ending earmarks didn't exactly reign in spending.

If you applauded Trump's veto, I'd honestly respect your viewpoint, even if I don't agree (because you are not just blindly following). I think we Americans always think the sky is falling. If you take a step back, really look at it, our country isn't going down the shitter, and for all its dysfunctionality, the govt isn't a "failed state". Our economy is massive - I'm sure more than twice the size of the nearest competitor, no matter what China's published numbers say, because they're bullshit. We are also extremely diverse in our views. So of course, running a country like that is expensive and deeply inefficient. Unless we want to follow China's lead and appoint Trump lifetime ruler.

Which is closer to the real problems we face. They aren't budgetary. That's an ongoing unavoidable feature of the world's biggest democracy. But the rise of nationalism in the WH, a budding young trade war, rise of nationalism in Europe and elsewhere - these are things to worry about IMO. The world is IMO becoming a more uncertain and dangerous place, and we seem to be diving headlong into the deadly mistakes of our past.

[Post edited by hoolstoptheheels at 03/23/2018 12:45PM]