Rokinronda,
Well put. Perspective is an amazing concept.
We went wrong over the years in so many ways I expect it would be impossible to identify them all. At the risk of incurring the wrath of those who don't think this a political issue, I submit that one big place where we took the wrong fork in the road is with President Taft when he drafted the 16th Amendment to The Constitution, establishing the Income Tax. That has to be on the list of biggies. Another is when that same President drafted the 17th Amendment, which said Senators will be elected by popular vote.
One of the results of those two acts is an environment of "one group can make another pay the freight". And since all our leaders (well mostly all, the president is still supposedly elected by the electoral college) are directly elected; buying votes by promising the world overcame voting on principal. Our government continues on a path toward a Democracy, a concept that the founding fathers tried mightily to avoid. They studied history and learned that concept was not viable long term. We tend not to pay as much attention to history today.
Overly simplistic, absolutely. But there is little dispute, we are in miserable shape now. Is there a way out? Not with any on the politicians in the headlines today...And I seriously doubt that is going to change with the next President..regardless of which of the 3 contenders wins. :dontknow: