
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Trump has promised to “make American great again.” ; It has been a catchy campaign slogan, but not a restoration of greatness by a long shot. ; Maybe we are beyond making America great again.. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">American greatness was not only dependent on military strength or technological superiority – although those were important to the United States’ role as a world leader. ; After surrendering in a serious of conflicts, America’s military superiority appears more a theory than a reality. ; I n terms of technological superiority, we ae losing that advantage to nations such as China and India. ; In terms of essential computer chips, we are now completely dependent on Taiwan.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The loss of American leadership and greatness may be more the results of losing the real qualities of greatness – hard work, sacrifice, compassion, a clear sense of right and wrong, rugged individualism and patriotism. ; Those were the unifying traits that created the most enduring experiment in democracy and the most successful national culture in the history of the world. ; Virtually all those traits have been reversed in contemporary America. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Hardwork</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hard work has been replaced with a sense of entitlement. ; Success is measured by getting more with less effort – shorter workdays and work weeks, longer vacations, early retirement and reliance on welfare. ; A successful economy is dependent on the maximum of individuals who are both consumers and PRODUCERS. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 2000 employed Americans represented more than 64 percent of the population – an all time high. ; Twice as many producers/consumers as consumers only. Two-thirds of the population were supporting one-third. Today, the number of employed is approximately 160 million, approximately 50 percent of the population. Half of America is now supporting the other half.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A just and charitable society subsidizes the needs of children, the elderly, the infirmed and the disabled. ; But the subsidies go far beyond legitimate needs. ; They are doled out in the form of “benefits” and “entitlement” – terms that suggest the money is unearned.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Sacrifice</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The sense of sacrifice has been replaced by greed. ; The percentage of money donated to religious organizations and charities has declined over the years. ; Abortion has replaced adoption as the means of addressing unwanted children. ; Statistically, the so-called “greatest generation” has consumed more natural and financial resources than any generation in the history of the world – more than they could pay for. ; That bill is passed on to future generations in the form of the National Debt. ; We have literally reversed the notion of sacrificing for our children to have a better life. ; And for the first time, the next generation will have a greater economic burden and a lower lifestyle than their parents and grandparents.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Compassion</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">America’s compassion was not a matter of domestic policy. ; It extended to people across the globe. ; America was the greatest provider of humanitarian aid in the face of natural disasters and war. ; America created the Marshall Plan to rebuild the defeated nations in World War II, restoring them to independent democracies. ; We did not consume or occupy them as part of an empire – as was the case with Russia and Eastern Europe. Most elderly parents spent their last years living with family – not in senior nursing homes. ; We were good neighbors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Sense of right and wrong</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Perhaps one of the most damaging aspects of political correctness, identity politics and wokeness is that it has blurred the distinctions between right and wrong – and in some cases switched the polarity altogether. What kind of culture demonizes police and caters to criminality? ; It is wrong to make the criminal the victim – or to tolerate crime. ; Failure to enforce the law breeds more crime. ; That is wrong. ; It is wrong to allow a male who self-proclaims to be a woman participate in women’s sports. ; It is wrong to expose young children to adult sexual content … period. ; It is wrong to enable young children to engage in gender selection or pronoun selection. ; It is wrong to maintain millions of blacks trapped in segregated and impoverished ghettoes. ; It is wrong to judge the murder of a white male a lesser crime than the murder of a white woman … or a black man … or a gay person. ; Yes, much of this has become normalized in today’s American society, but that does not make it right or beneficial to a healthy culture.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Rugged individualism</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Rugged individualism” is an unfortunately anachronistic term to reflect a level of self-reliance. ; Situations and issues are first to be handled by the person. ; Only when that is not possible does one seek the interjection of others – with government being the option of last resort. ; That is especially true of the federal government. ; Today, the federal government is less Uncle Sam and more like Big Brother. ; The citizens have evolved to seeking federal assistance as the first and permanent option. ; Arguably, it is loss of self-reliance that has surrendered hard work, sacrifice and compassion to Washington as a government service. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Patriotism</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Patriotism is the recognition of the common culture. ; America was founded on the principle – if not the total reality &#8212; of e pluribus unum – out of many, one. ; The genius and goodness of America was the ability for self-improvement – to make “a more perfect union.” ; America attracted and embraced cultures from throughout the world, and through assimilation bonded them into one culture – the American culture. ; Despite political differences, there had been a strong sense of common culture – patriotism. ; It was reflected in respect for the flag … the National Anthem … and the Pledge of Allegiance. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The failure to respect and embrace the symbols of unity has resulted in the tribalization of America. ; We have devolved into a collection of competing – and even warring – demographic tribes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We no longer pass our culture on to the next generation. ; Rather we openly disrespect the flag .. the National Anthem … and the Pledge of Allegiance. ; They are no longer part of our early education. ; On the Fourth of July, one or two flags were seen on the more than dozens of homes in my own neighborhood. ; Sports owners have stopped playing the National Anthem or requiring players to be present and standing. Schoolchildren no longer start the day with the Pledge of Allegiance. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Patriotism is the mutual expression of the common culture. ; Without patriotism, we would have no recognized common culture. ; Or perhaps, without no common culture, we have no patriotism.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Summary</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The loss of the unique American culture is coincidental with the loss of American leadership in the world. ; To increasing number of nations, the United States is no longer that bright shiny house on the hill. ; We are no longer the reliable friend and ally – or even the formidable and feared adversary. ; It is not that the world has lost respect for the American culture, but that America has lost its traditional culture that the world once respected. ; Respect cannot be demanded but must be earned. ; What was once respected no longer exists. ; America has stopped being America – and we have lost respect at home and abroad. ; Looking at America’s political leadership across the board, I do not see the person or people who can really make America great again. ; For the sake of future generations, I hope I am wrong.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Will America Ever be Great Again?
