How Much Ruin Do We Have Left?

Friends and enemies abroad are becoming variously shocked, disheartened—and gleeful—as the United States cannibalizes itself.

By Victor Davis Hanson April 21, 2021

 

Any nation’s well-being—as Americans know from their own illustrious history—hinges on only a few factors. Its prosperity, freedom, and stability depend on its constitutional and political stability.  A secure currency and financial order are also essential, as is a strong military.  Perhaps most important, however, is a first-rate, inductive educational system. Of course, nothing is possible without general social calm, often dependent on a reverence for the past, along with present secure borders. 

The ability to produce or easily acquire food, fuel, and key natural resources ensures a nation’s independence and autonomy.   Unfortunately in the last few months all of those centuries-old reasons to be confident in American strength and resiliency have now been put into doubt.  The challenge is not just enemies abroad such as China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. Instead, the greater problem lies within us—as we erode the inherited and acquired strengths that made us singular, both materially and spiritually.  

We are now witnessing a concentrated effort to alter the constitutional order and centuries of custom and tradition. Only that way, the Left believes, can it retain its transient power given the unpopularity of most of its current agenda. The bedrock of a nation is its institutions. Yet, the 233-year old Electoral College and the Constitution’s emphasis on individual states establishing voting laws are under assault.  Already gone is the 176-year old tradition of a pivotal November Election Day.   The 152-year old nine-member Supreme Court, the 170-year old Senate filibuster, and the 62-year old idea of a 50-state union are all targeted by the New Democratic Party.........To Read More.....