The rise of America has been phenomenal. Never before had a society ever seen such material wealth, comfort and power, particularly in the 20th century.
This was all the result of the America's natural resources and continuously expanding pool of human ingenuity and drive. This reinforced the image amongst Americans that they were the 'Chosen people'.
America has always pushed for 'The American way of life'. This is defined by several things including democracy, and freedom, free speech, free trade, open borders, globalisation, etc. in an attempt to make American thought and action universal, something that America would make the world follow in its footsteps and image.
American industrialisation supported by its capitalistic approach trumped all other economies and changed cultures dramatically, it then went global.
In America itself, vast number of people that formerly worked on the farm in 19th century moved from rural America to urban and suburban America during the 20th century, to work in the factories and offices. With the rising tide of wealth of America grew also the wealth of American workers.
An American middle class family had a standard of living much higher than the wealthy people of many countries. American leaders stuck to the same model that gave them this astounding success.
For reasons too long to explain in this article, slowly and steadily America lost its traditional lead and then much of its basic manufacturing capacity to countries like China etc advanced manufacturing to countries like Germany, Korea, Japan etc. A lot of its research and services to countries like Germany, Korea, India etc.
'Reganomics' and similar policies marginalised most Americans and concentrated all power and wealth and influence in the hands of a few people who control 60% of the wealth, all the major businesses, the media, all the major financial institutions and banks. This group also control the government, the politicians, by virtue of lobbying, the US senate and Congress. The entire military - industry complex has been in the hands of this select group. They are global, driven by profit and not by American nationalism and therefore they look at the whole world as their play ground.
Now the biggest drivers of American growth is Financial services, Armaments, Space technology, pharmaceuticals etc. All which require relatively very few employees.
Couple the desperate desire to cast the world into the American mould, and enormous power within the hands of a few people, America had embarked on a long and arduous journey to change everything by all means even if that meant long and expensive wars. This and many other reasons has drained much of the vigour out of American economy and its citizens.
For many proud American workers who have lost their jobs and find themselves unready and unsuitable for the new jobs, they stare at a dead end.
For most Americans the 'American dream' is increasingly an 'American Nightmare'. Right now they are a very frustrated and angry people and rightly so. They want change and they want it now, they want to simply rid themselves of all the things and people that they believe are the cause of their problems.
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