Why Are Americans PessimisticAbout the Future?

America’s commentators often reference author P.J. O’Rourke to explain the complicated emotions that the majority of the world’s people have toward this country. In 1984, when O’Rourke was working in Lebanon, he was frequently stopped at checkpoints that Hezbollah had set up. One time, the guards were a group of armed young men wearing the words “Kill America, Satan, the Devil,” and when O’Rourke showed his U.S. passport, one of them began rebuking him, “Tell me, poverty, war, injustice, Zionism — why has America created all the horrible disasters in the world?” Finally, the young man ended his reprimands and told O’Rourke of his career plans to go to Dearborn, Michigan and become a dentist.

Foreign commentators have grown accustomed to people sharply criticizing America, while unwillingly casting envious looks toward this very country.

What is the definition of America? Some say it is “paradise.” What is paradise? Perhaps, a complex definition would make the situation difficult to comprehend. Simply put, paradise is a place where common people can live comfortably, and it is with this dream that many illegal immigrants run risks to arrive in America.

However, this is all in the past. O’Rourke’s example took place in 1984. Nowadays, most people are no longer as passionate about the American dream, while America’s appeal is also no longer as dazzlingly brilliant.

Let us return to Americans themselves. According to the newest survey conducted by The Associated Press, the great majority of U.S. citizens believe that American life will fall into a vicious cycle, facing a downhill slide until 2050. They also believe that the current standard of living is worse than 40 years ago. Although the “notably pessimistic are middle-age and older people,” the young have more reason to be disappointed about the future.

This can already be seen in American mainstream media. Not long ago, The Washington Post published columnist Robert J. Samuelson’s article, which clearly pointed out that the U.S. has fallen into a “clash of generations” since paying benefits to the elderly happens at the cost of sacrificing the interests of the young. Although the editor of The National Interest denies shattering the American dream, he does admit that because of the aging population and suffocating subsidy programs, it is not surprising that future generations lack faith in the economy.

Many young Americans are choosing to study abroad, in contrast to the former situation where foreigners came to the U.S. to be educated. Last year, approximately 250,000 young people studied abroad, whereas 10 years ago this number was merely 125,000. Firsthand experience abroad has allowed these young Americans to realize that many other countries perform better than the U.S. in certain matters.

The American dream has perhaps turned into reality in other countries — with affordable universal health care and a comprehensive public transportation network.

What is worse is the rigidity of the political system. More members of Congress are busy fundraising, while more U.S. media companies are making money a priority, leading to endless, irresponsible news reports. On top of this, the U.S. Constitution advocates the separation of powers, but it is exactly the balance of powers that is causing the political impasse and absence of consensus on all major issues.

However, it is comforting to American analysts and commentators that there are bright prospects for energy independence, with technological advances playing a key role. Nonetheless, they do admit that the two major parties working in conjunction to stimulate economic growth will be the biggest driving force, but it is quite the challenge for them to come to an agreement.