Thought from the outside:

The planet is in a rather average state as a place to live right now. Technology is great. We have the internet, global news, streaming entertainment and the ability to work and educate our kids all from home.
We have the ability to produce Vaccines, new drugs and provide new cures on almost a daily basis.
And we continue to soil and degrade the only planet we have in the name of profit, while printing meaningless money.
But every nation has that issue.
A few nations have other troubles. Sectarian violence, intolerance, inequity, racial hatred and political corruption. Thats the human condition it seems.
Most nations and people aspire to a leader. Many look to America as the Emerald City. The dream.. But just lately.....................
As bad as I believed things would get in America (and much of that is still to show through the cracks) I never believed that the slightest possibility of Civil War mark 2, would ever happen. And yet here we are with regular military personel facing off against bearded beergutted moutainfolk and screaming ignorant "Karens".
At this point is doesnt matter who wins. The very fact that you are fighting each other, rather than working together to defeat a virus, a broken economy, and a corrupt political system has already decided for you. America the world leader is over. The world is turning its back and every one of you bears responsibility for trashing the American dream in favour of self interest.
(So long and thanks for the help with WW2)
😷

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TheConstantGardener · 56-60, M

From my observation point, over the last five or so years there have been a lot of right-wing groups stirring the pot of dissent. Not just in your country but across Europe too. They have done this by seeding doubt in the minds of an audience who are disenchanted with society and ready to lap up the latest, laughable conspiracy theory as a solution to their unsatisfactory lives. If it comes to a showdown then there won't be many with the grit to back up all the big talk. They'll go with a whimper and then blame everyone else for their own failings.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@TheConstantGardener I would hope you are right.. But in other nations the community has pushed back, through the government, by supporting it, and as individuals. America seemed terminally fragmented. They even have to run security checks on their own military and police now. In hindsight its easy to see where it weant wrong. But I dont see it "going right" soon.. and its already too late. The rest of the world is looking forward and looking elsewhere while America looking increasingly inward.😷

TheConstantGardener · 56-60, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Your two party system doesn't help. Most European countries have multiple parties where fringe beliefs are represented but they only have a very minor part in national politics, contingent on their share of the vote.

You also have a very right-wing christian group who really have some wacky beliefs. They seem to be willing on, what they see as an Armageddon type scenario. I have confidence in the good sense of the majority of citizens. The extremists are only a very small number in reality but empty vessels make the most noise.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@TheConstantGardener Up to a point I agree.. Two parties can work, providing they are not parties of extremes. Broad swweps of the left and right, with the centre making the choice as to what is best for them is roughly how it was.. Now there is room for a moderate party in the centre.😷

TheConstantGardener · 56-60, M

@whowasthatmaskedman The two party system has become polarised as one part reacts to the other; a gradual ratcheting up of rhetoric and behaviour, I believe.

It there were multiple parties those centre ground parties can act together in consensus. The fringe have a voice but it doesn't sway the whole political system out of kilter as it seems to have done in the US.

Things are as they are for you. I hope there's a peaceful resolution but it looks like things may come to a head. The extremists don't seem amenable to rational argument.

Really · 80-89, M

@TheConstantGardener "[i]Things are as they are for you.....[/i]"

I think you're referring to the US situation - But MaskedMan is Australian?

My personal wish would be for minority governments in multi-party parliaments with lots of independent members.

TheConstantGardener · 56-60, M

@Really I think that greater electoral choice would benefit the American system. There are pros and cons to every political system but in America if you're right of centre or to the right of Attila the Hun, you vote Republican. The opposite applies to the other side. Extremists who subvert the party ethos can cloak themselves in the respectability of a long established party.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@TheConstantGardener The problem being that most Americans seem to chose a political party the same way most people choose a favourite sporting team..

TheConstantGardener · 56-60, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Haha! But it's not a game at the moment.