How’s the US Doing? It Depends on What—and Who—you Look At
Happy Fourth of July, folks! Let’s take a moment to appreciate the land of the free and the home of the brave. The US is a land of extremes right now, and it all depends on where you’re looking.
The Tech Boom: Yay for Unicorns!
Did you catch the latest on ChatGPT? Insane, right? And those tech stocks? They’re skyrocketing. As of today, the stock markets are at all-time highs. If you’re smart and capable, the opportunity to make serious bank has never been better. Unicorn startups are popping up like weeds in a garden. It’s a gold rush out there.
But Wait, There’s More… The Ugly Side
Now, let’s flip the coin. Homelessness? Out of control. Education scores? Tanking. Infrastructure? Crumbling. Drugs and guns? Everywhere. Politics? A complete circus. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion.
Welcome to US Exceptionalism: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
So why is the US like this? Here’s the lowdown:
1. Capitalism on Steroids: The US has a kickass capitalist system that fuels entrepreneurship and efficient product delivery. But it also creates massive wealth gaps.
2. Rock-Solid Legal System: Disputes get resolved, and contracts are enforced—most of the time. Though, lately, even that’s getting shaky.
3. Immigrant Power: Many of the brains behind innovation are immigrants, usually coming through top-notch American universities. But even these institutions are under siege now.
Let’s break it down: A tiny fraction of the population—around one million people, half of them immigrants—are driving nearly all the innovation that’s boosting the US economy. Meanwhile, the top 10% of Americans control almost half the income and over 70% of the wealth. The bottom 50%? They’re barely scraping by.
Why All the Anger?
We’ve got more wealth than ever, so why the rage? It’s these glaring disparities. As AI and automation take over, more people get left behind, and these divides will only get worse.
Can We Count on Our Leaders?
Our leaders need to pull us together and boost productivity and prosperity for everyone. But who are we kidding? Our political landscape is a dumpster fire. Yet, we still get to choose our leaders—democracy for the win?
The Real Issue: Us
The biggest problem? It’s how we treat each other and our environment. We need more empathy, logic, and civility. Instead, we’re getting more selfishness, emotion, and discord. If we don’t fix this, both the rich and the poor are screwed.
Hyper-Realist with Idealistic Hopes
Here’s the deal: I’m a realist with a dash of idealism. This is what’s happening, what needs to happen, and what will likely go down. Buckle up. The next few years are going to be interesting for America.
Thomas Dean
The Passport Bro Chronicles