...this excessive individualism is destructive...
yes. this.
america maybe was founded largely on the basis of
escaping religious intolerance so that those very escapees to the new world could own their own inability to tolerate other religions.
the majority of colonies were what i call
Exclusive Religious Theme Parks.
this gives background to State's rights being preeminent and subservient to later defined Federal level granted limitations.
the vastness of north america demanded religious freedom to be conjoithined at the e-pluribus hip with a more pragmatic rough hewn individualism. don't tread on me. give me freedom or give me death.
this gave america a special chance. different from
any other nation except the two other continental stretching
new lands of canada and australia.
i think that the eventual differences between America, Australia, and Canada come down to America fought a successful war of independence against Britain. canada and australia never found it useful or necessary to redefine until much later their own national consciences.
for me, america's breaking off at an early point the binding ties of the old world forced it to go its own way.
this caused america and americans to harbour a stubborn self identify based on a misperception of what freedom means.
the words like freedom and liberty became the short cut by which americans identify themselves.
fast forward to now:
when States (50! of them) each have ultimate power
(and r governors won't enforce public health rules such as mandating masks)
when armed militias roam the corridors of state capitals (
and plots to kidnap governors are defended as Citizen Arrests by elected County Sheriffs)
where the majority vote is actually not important
(and electors can be chosen based on rules other than majority popular vote)
america is pre-modern country with antiquated governing mechanisms unlikely able to overcome 21st century challenges to climate change, pandemics, (need to participate as an equal in) global alliances, and a failure to understand that socialised health care is human right.
where all other modern, advanced countries live by and practice something like "your right to freedom stops where it impacts the greater more basic societal good" americans are left to try to meddle their way out of
herd mentality issues. GMAFB.
after trump, none of america's past most loyal and traditional allies are thinking that america can be depended on again.
30% of america which is trump's true base has changed the course of america and our world.
at least for the lifetime of all of us.
kris and janis and gordon and willie's words should be ringing an alarm bell:
Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose.
many americans protect their freedom only to lose their souls.