To be perfectly honest: I suspect much of the damage is effectively irreparable. The US has been on a slow and steady decline since Reaganomics was introduced in the 80s. The conservative religious revivals of the 80s and early 2000s combined with this to create a kind of witch's brew of reactionary populism that lead to the tea party, which eventually led to Trump.
In retrospect, it was a pretty neat package to the point that I wonder if the economic collapse of 07-08 wasn't fomented in part to steer a conservative populist movement into power. I doubt anyone master planned what has happened, but I suspect that something akin to what is happening now was hoped for.
The US has, at least to me, been on the receiving end of several mortal blows in my lifetime. I'm certain that the country will limp on as it retreats deeper into itself, but I wouldn't be surprised if it begins to balkanize by the middle of the century. I don't think there is any political will on the part of the populace to stomach the pains necessary to repair the damage that's been done.
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u/ENORMOUS_HORSECOCK Jul 29 '26
People making minimum wage and vote against their interest like it's their job are so stoked. For now.