Is America united by a strong economy?
Is economic unity under a strong economy all that holds the United States together as a people? Under a Trump or Obama Presidency we have had two very divisive campaigns and policies. The American people are more divided than we have been in a very long time culturally. On the other hand the economy and stock market are doing very well under Donald Trump and it seems that the economy is the only thing holding the United States together.
It is almost the 4th of July and I'm asking any Americans reading, what do you think holds the United States together?
...promises of tax cuts. If those don't happen then....
The United States even from its creation has always been divided in terms of ideology. There were arguments about states rights vs. the national government back even during the founding of the country. Even today, it appears we have become completely polarized and divided on different sides.
I do think the thing that unites the United States is not economics but a belief in an ideology surrounding core principles. Some of these core principles such as a right to free speech are enshrined in the constitution. The Declaration of Independence put forward the the idea that all people are equal. While Americans might argue about the direction the country takes, it are these beliefs and practices that unite Americans in a common union with each other.
What ideology is that? The only thing the US seems to have to bring people together is the possibility of getting rich here.
Am I missing something?
Agree with rockjon. Federalism, as advocated by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was a way to protect our core values against an over-reaching federal government (i.e., a monarchy or dictatorship). Our core values were those listed in our Bill of Rights. You can find the full list here https://nccs.net/online-resources/us-constitution/amendments-to-the-us-constitution/the-bill-of-rights-amendments-1-10
Do you believe those are the same values are guiding America today? Sure I can believe it was back then for at least a small minority of enlightened Americans.
Unfortunately, I agree with you. These should be the values that are guiding us today, but many people have abandoned them. Yet, I don't think you have to be a Strict Constructionist to appreciate their merit.
Economy is the only thing holding people togather not only in America. It works all around the world, except maybe Nothern Korea.
Delusion.
By the time Trump is done there is not much left of the strong economy. Obama did a good job pulling the US out of the recession, and he did it with grace and earned respect from the other countries.
Trump is only respected by Russia and you can even argue if that is real.
One thing to note is that Obama's budget is in effect until October.
Honestly it's getting better now believe it or not , even with all the curruption , frauds , etc, the economy is better better little by little, more jobs are opening up for individuals( which is amazing) they are creating better educational programs , what more do we need? It takes time for an economy to become stable. It's not a 1.2.3 move
The stock market is at an all time high, but I don't think most Americans are doing well economically, as globalization and tech has affected employment, and wages have stagnated for decades due to that, and the system being rigged against ordinary people. Here's a good post by Robert Reich on this: http://robertreich.org/post/107998491550
And that in large part explains how Trump got elected...although it's important to note that he did lose the popular vote by a historic margin, and barely won the electoral college.
I watched this breakdown of the elephant chart the other day, and found it illuminating: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/hottest-chart-economics-means/ It shows the very rich in countries like the US are doing well, and rising economies like China are having growing middle-classes, but the middle-classes in countries like the US are disappearing with the quickness.
In terms of what holds the US together, I think in people's minds at least, the country is getting very, very divided, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
There's been a lot of racism and inequality historically in the US for sure, but now that job losses and stagnating wages are really affecting certain segments of white America, we're seeing more and more these intense divisions. I also thought this interview was illuminating: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2017/06/06/the-real-reason-working-class-whites-continue-to-support-trump/
Most Americans don't own stocks. Financial literacy is very low here.
True - like so many things in our society that can create wealth, the elite few have made it so technocratic, and subjected it to so much regulation, that the average man can't understand it.
America is united by inertia, give them a few centuries and they'll do a British Empire
If I understand your comment, then unfortunately you are right. Like all great civilizations, there is a life cycle. And we are on the decline, spiraling into the bloated government excess, disappearing middle class and socialism that ruined the European economy and it's head seat at the geopolitical table.
Great question though definitely deserves an upvote and a Resteem.
It generally takes 8-10 years to see how a president's policies affect the economy. As far as what keeps us together, I'm sure the answer lies somewhere between mutual beneficence and mutually-assured destruction.