Enough Doom and Gloom – Here’s Why I’m Optimistic About America’s Future

“Great speech – but man, that was depressing!”

That’s something I’ve often heard more than a few times from my lovely wife, Susan, after weighing in on the state of the world at one event or another. I guess when you’re asked to comment on pressing global issues, it’s inevitable that you’ll focus on the many threats that face us today. What’s more, when you’ve served as Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, you acquire a unique insight into evil that inevitably influences your worldview.

But while I’m clear-eyed about the nature of the world we live in, I’m no pessimist. Far from it.

Why? Because I’m an American, and I believe in America.

That belief isn’t contingent on who the President is, or who controls Congress, or whether or not a Supreme Court decision aligns with my views. It’s grounded in the constitutional order that is our bedrock; the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen that keep us free; and the spirit of ingenuity, generosity, and sheer grit that has always characterized the American people.

Consider our extraordinary economic strength and resilience. For most of human history, the vast majority of people were unimaginably poor. Just 200 years ago, 80% of the world lived in extreme poverty. Today, that figure is under 9%. That unprecedented prosperity has been driven in large part by the economic dynamism unleashed by the U.S., and it skyrocketed with the consolidation of the U.S.-led economic order after the Second World War.

The link between free markets and our core constitutional freedoms has always been clear to Americans, and it is a key driver of our success and ability to tackle challenges. America’s economic success would be impossible without the democratic institutions that protect our property rights and ability to speak freely; it’s the framework that has helped to encourage the culture of ingenuity that remains the envy of the world. And thanks to revolutionary deregulatory actions of President Trump, we’re on course to unleash even greater possibilities for productivity, innovation, and economic growth.

It’s easy to take for granted, but the brilliance and perspicacity of our Founders have gifted us with an enduring model that is the envy of the world. For all the challenges and problems that face our country and our political system, our democratic institutions remain strong. Our constitutional rights are being reasserted every day thanks to the return of originalists to our courts, and to the great work being done by organizations like the ACLJ on causes ranging from religious liberty to the rights of the unborn.

Finally, it’s America’s civic-mindedness that is perhaps the greatest reason I’m optimistic about our country’s future. In my home state of Kansas and in my travels across our great nation, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many people who contribute to their communities in ways large and small. Whether it’s running for a seat on the PTA, starting a small business, or coaching the girls’ soccer team, these activities are the backbone of our country. It’s what gives people a stake in their communities and the ability to translate those priorities to elected representatives at all levels of government. It is the foundation of that very American virtue of making things happen, rather than waiting for things to happen to you.

So yes, even as I’m acutely aware of the domestic and international challenges we face, I’m betting that America will surmount these obstacles and prevail. After all, we’ve done it so many times before: Defying the odds to forge an independent Republic; saving that young Republic from destruction in the Civil War; and prevailing in two World Wars and over the Soviet menace to become the most powerful, freest nation on Earth.

As President Harry Truman once said, “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” As long as we remain true to those values, there’s every reason to be optimistic.