The United States has no leadership on critical issues that break out of the standard frame of capitalism, markets and economic man. The result is the country Has no claim on the future to which people could apply themselves on the basis that “that is a good idea.“
The country is divided between those who are doing well economically, and those who are not doing well, either economically or spiritually. The country no longer stands for anything. The Democrats who used to represent working people, but not very well, without any idealism, now represent the professional class and the Republicans are picking up the disaffected and supported by many of the rich, who think that a Republican party, critical of the democrats and professionals, will protect them from politics, that would undermine growth. We have not done a good job of understanding Trump supporters and their disaffection. We also have not done a good job of understanding how The Democrats have ceased to represent anything but Wall Street. Their choice is to keep the party going, which means avoiding the implications of climate change and associated issue as long as possible.