As far as I can tell, it's the financialization of the economy and the outsourcing of so much manufacturing overseas that's really going doing the most damage..

As far as I can tell, it's the financialization of the economy and the outsourcing of so much manufacturing overseas that's really going doing the most damage... and changing gears would require a vast re-investment of federal dollars in basic public infrastructure, rewriting the trade deals to force sellers who want access to American markets to manufacture their goods within US borders (at US labor prices), and redirecting a significant chunk of the federal military-industrial budget to more productive enterprises (A construction crane, for example, can build other things. A tank, it's just good for blowing stuff up.) The politicians seem like little more than corporate middle managers in a crumbling Empire, regardless of political ideology. They want jobs for their districts and kickbacks for their inner circles, by and large - and the only federal jobs on offer these days seem to be MIC programs of one kind or another. It's understandable, but they have no vision and are mainly just following the herd. The real centers of power appear to lie within the networks of Gilded Age plutocrats, in finance, tech, energy, pharma, retail, ag... and half of them seem to have plans for fleeing the country if things go really sour. Add on top of all that, increasing pressure from climate (record California drought for example), breakdowns in global supply chains (imagine if China takes this opportunity to invade Taiwan, nobody in America will be able to get socks and underwear or toothbrushes). Apparently gun sales are at record highs as well. It's not a very pretty picture. Looks more like sitting on the edge of another 1930s Great Depression than anything else. Much of the younger generation seems to have zero hope of ever buying a home, the largest older generation is all heading for a shaky insecure retirement, and the political leaders are mostly corrupt bumbling incompetents, many of whom should have retired from their jobs over a decade ago. A radical shift in direction is really needed.