Have You Given Up on America?
I had a conversation with a coworker this morning. He started it by mentioning that "Trump scares me." I have come to realize that, especially now that the candidate pool has been greatly diminished, they all scare me. While the president can have an impact on the nation, I think this whole thing has too much momentum in the wrong direction for any one person to fix it.
Then, one could say that the citizens will come to their senses and either rise up, or vote, or protest, or whatever. But, I don't have any faith in that anymore. I haven't for several years now. A vast majority of people seem to either be woefully unprincipled, or just dumb as rocks (often both). In my small circle of friends I know some really brilliant, passionate people. Most seem to still think they can change the system. I don't. And, that's where I'm at with this question. Do you have "faith" that America will somehow find its way to a free economy, to better schools, to more liberty, etc?
Then, one could say that the citizens will come to their senses and either rise up, or vote, or protest, or whatever. But, I don't have any faith in that anymore. I haven't for several years now. A vast majority of people seem to either be woefully unprincipled, or just dumb as rocks (often both). In my small circle of friends I know some really brilliant, passionate people. Most seem to still think they can change the system. I don't. And, that's where I'm at with this question. Do you have "faith" that America will somehow find its way to a free economy, to better schools, to more liberty, etc?
The concept of individual freedom (self ownership, ownership of one's life and one' time) as an immutable truth of man's existence, fully understood by a majority of America's population is the only possible means of attaining the "change" you seem to desire. Government will not reduce itself or it's power.
Stay away from these weirdos. They're not the majority. Just nod you head and go back to people who are getting shit done. The world is run by people showing up and doing stuff, and on that basis I'm not worried about people who will sign a petition for Karl Marx to be the VP (whatever that even means) running anything.
I think the best although difficult option is to build a new country. These days you may have to create the land (advanced seastead). Yes it is a long shot. But how can you reach people when ever tool of persuasion is either dissolved in intellectual doublespeak or everything substantial is met with TL;DR?
Even if the debt grew even more huge and the us defaulted, then in the aftermath as everyone's savings were wiped out, the two sides of the same card would be blaming each other for it, and stoopid people would file right in line behind thier chosen master. ( not saying they will default, this is a what if statement)
So Im not too optimistic, but until I turn in my passport, I guess I really haven't given up.
Have fun
I see the whole US gov't as set up with intentionally limited executive, so we wouldn't have to depend on the "king" being benevolent. Gov't powers were to be limited so the gov't wouldn't have to consider everyone's interests. People would manage their own interests. If the gov't operated this way and there were solid systems to prevent the president from over-reaching, I wouldn't be scared.
"Do you have "faith" that America will somehow find its way to a free economy, to better schools, to more liberty, etc?"
In many ways (certainly not all) we have a freer economy, better schools, and more liberty than 100 and 200 years ago. Based on this trend, I'm optimistic that we will get a freer economy, better schools, and more liberty in the future. There certainly is a lot of room for improvement.
It's hard for me to judge, but it feels freer to me now.