America has a governmental system that was painstakingly crafted from long discussions by its founding fathers. Yet, America is still struggling to meet its founding values. America thus is a nation searching for itself.
America was founded with the core values of liberty, equality, self-government, and individualism. America truly has met many of these goals, such as through establishing a relatively open education system. However, America struggles to address equality. In America, the middle class shrinking, while the top 1% is growing in wealth. In achieving one goal, America seems to compensate by taking a step back on another. In America, freedom seems to be an open invitation to be greedy and corrupt. In Abdul-Jabbar's article, "The Coming Race War Won't Be About Race", Abdul-Jabbar presents a case that the rich are manipulating the poor through corrupt sentimental news sources.
A historical case of taking one thing a step back to advance the other can be seen in federalism. In 1916, America a federal act passed that restricted the interstate shipment of goods produced by child labor. However, in 1918, the Supreme Court deemed the government as not having the power to to pass such a law, as such a power was allocated to the states.
America may have accomplished a lot, but it is blinded by its successes and confused by the news. Americans should, as Abdul-Jabbar said, find a specific agenda for change.
