The state of America in 2023: confusion and pessimism

The first quarter of 2023 leaves Americans with little reason to be optimistic about the next three quarters. The economic and geopolitical challenges of 2022 continue into the new year and are in many ways worse.

The US economy is on the brink of crisis, and the world’s dictatorships are in an impregnable alliance to seek the end of America. But instead of being present at this moment, House Republican leaders are bowing to extremists at the caucuses. debt ceiling advocating discount US support for Ukraine.

All the while, Republicans continued to accept, protect Donald Trump plagued by investigations, including his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. In addition, Ron DeSantis (R-Florida), who is seen as the Republican successor, once represented his party’s best chance to emerge from Trump’s divisive politics and undemocratic tendencies. A person, stokes and delves into the flames of extremism.Trumpian Far-Right Populism Defends Six Weeks abortion Prohibition of and unauthorized importation of pistol.

In short, America’s inability to fully respond to the crisis it faces is due in no small part to irresponsible leadership in the Republican Party. Time and time again, the Republican Party has put the interests of the party’s extremists above those of the American people and elevated far-right figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green (R-Ga.). rice field. called Because of the interstate separation of Democrats and Republicans.

Indeed, Democrats have occasionally, albeit to a much lesser extent, succumbed to the far left, toying with socialism and adopting inflationary tax and spending policies. While President Biden isn’t entirely blameless for the country’s economic woes, his perceived lack of economic leadership represents a significant impediment to his re-election chances. increase.

inflation, continues to erode American wages while declining.multiple banks We’re screwed In just a few weeks, others are teetering on the brink of collapse. In turn, Americans’ already low confidence in the economy plummeted In addition, President Biden’s approval rating is record low.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve’s efforts to keep inflation in check by raising interest rates catalyzed the collapse of New York-based Signature and Silicon Valley banks.16th largest banks nationwide. This is he says from 2007 he is the biggest banking crisis since the 2009 global financial crisis.

The federal government did what it needed to do to strengthen the stability of the U.S. banking system by boosting all deposits in the two troubled banks, but Americans believed this was the end of 2008. I’m not sure it’s not a government bailout like when taxpayers are to blame. Billions of dollars worth of federal aid to keep banks alive.

Despite the fact that the Biden administration has gone to great lengths to convince Americans that this time taxpayers will not bear this burden, many Americans (53%) — and 55% of independents — believe they will ultimately bear the costs.

Combined with this banking crisis and the fall in the stock market (which has lost more than 10% of its value over the past year and about 20% since January 2022), the 62 It helps explain why more than 100% of stocks have fallen.American disapproval of Biden’s handling of the economy.

The stock market is not the economy, but it is a visible barometer of the health of the American economy. and, 150 million For Americans who normally hold stocks in their retirement accounts, the loss of that wealth, even temporarily, can be devastating.

Regarding the international situation, the war between Ukraine and Russia intensified at the beginning of the year, but there were new developments. Aid to Ukraine While the political right in particular is waning in the United States, Russia is deepening its autocratic alliance with China.US intelligence agencies report China could begin to provide lethal aid to bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine, which would mark a dramatic and serious escalation of the conflict.

China is also gaining influence in the Middle East. peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the Biden administration’s disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan is playing in no small part, testing America’s power in this precarious but vital region.

That said, President Biden has taken a number of significant actions this year to reaffirm America’s leadership on the world stage. visit Kiev, Ukraine and his regime have made a real effort to put real politics ahead of politics with Israelthe most important ally in the Middle East.

That said, the challenges facing America, from enemies abroad and with the economy at home, are greater than any president or administration and can only be resolved if leaders on both sides of the aisle are willing to recognize it. increase. Despite our political differences, we have a common national purpose.

In a perfect world, the rest of 2023 would bring more bipartisanship, greater economic stability, and a victory for Ukraine. and willing to address the many other challenges facing the country, from immigration to crime.

But the remaining nine months of the year are likely to be much the same as the first three, defined by partisanship, economic turmoil and global uncertainty.

Douglas E. Schoen and Carly Cooperman are pollsters and partners at Schoen Cooperman Research, a New York-based polling firm. They are co-authors of the book “America: Unite or Die.”