[baytrailcat]

To me, what is striking is that USA has always been glimmering example of a civilized society. An asymptote, if you will, of the curve of human progress. It showed other countries what laws are logical ("self-evident"), what is the best way to run an economy and what is the distilled essence of western civilization. Sure, when you look closer, you can always find flaws and internal-struggles. But the principles were always there as an inspiration.

Regardless of the geopolitical situations, it is fair to say that USA is rapidly reaching a point where it can no longer lay a claim on those principles. And I am not claiming that this happened on Nov 8, 2016. This has been happening steadily since the beginning of this century (Iraq War, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay etc.). And simultaneously it comes at a point where the long term sustainability of its other important contribution (free-market capitalism) is brought to question.

We are really living in an inflection point in history (Like end of European imperialism, fall of communism etc.)

[laretluval]

> An asymptote, if you will, of the curve of human progress.

The curve of progress according to one faction, which it turns out has a lot less popular support than it thought.

[baytrailcat]

Sure, ethno-nationalism has a claim on this mantle. But is it curving it towards the right direction? Remember, we have been here multiple times before (like the pre World War I world order). We had to suffer through a lot of carnage to reach here. As a species, we reduced the total human suffering, improved our lives, developed technology to overcome our ailments, began to adopt reason over organized religion and we are almost figuring out how to live with each other in spite of our genetic and cultural differences. Centuries from now, when we are cruising towards stars (if we are lucky enough) to spread through the galaxy, can we look back and say that this step was in the right direction? I don't think so.

I think it of as more as an over-correction, an exploitation of the flaws in the system which unfortunately will bring more bloodshed and suffering to get through before getting replaced.