Is America on the verge of an incredible comeback? Or is America in decline? These questions have captured the public’s imagination as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary next year, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It feels like everyone is asking these questions, reflecting a deep sense of uncertainty and concern about the nation’s trajectory.
For the first time in history, fewer than half of Americans believe that their country’s best days are ahead of us. More people think that the best days are in the rearview mirror. A staggering four out of five Americans believe their children’s lives will be worse than theirs—a number that has doubled in just 20 years. Moreover, a growing number of Americans worry that someone born in the future will be worse off than someone born in the past. These statistics paint a picture of a nation struggling with optimism and a sense of pessimism about its future.
Yet, the author is hopeful. He asserts that America is not in decline but is instead drifting. This drift, he argues, is a dangerous state for a nation that was meant to move forward, lifting up its people and leading the world. The author believes that while the nation is still the strongest on Earth by many measures, it is not moving in the direction it needs to go and what it needs to be. The good news is that the country can still get back on track, but only if citizens remember their core values and build a future on the time-tested principles that have made America great in the past.
These principles, he notes, are belief in people, free enterprise, the family, accountability, and human dignity. Every generation of Americans has applied these principles to overcome challenges and move past division. The author argues that the same approach must be taken today, emphasizing that the future depends on the collective action of the people.
The author calls for a shift from passive observation to active participation in the nation’s future. He stresses that individuals, not politicians, hold the key to restoring the nation’s direction. This call to action is not just about political involvement, but about personal responsibility and the belief that tomorrow can be better. The author suggests that if people believe that tomorrow will be worse, they will act accordingly, striving less and trying to get more than they give. However, if people believe that tomorrow will be better, they will step up, taking the initiative to solve problems and never settling for the status quo.
The stakes, according to the author, are high. If the nation continues on its current path of drifting, it may become a decline. However, if citizens act by applying the time-tested principles that define the best of the nation’s history, America will find its direction again. The author believes that the nation has everything it needs to move forward, including a creative and entrepreneurial population, a strong economy, and a global desire for freedom and opportunity. By working together, the people can give a new lease on life to the American Dream, proving that the nation’s days of drifting are over.