Reading news stories over the last decade or so, from all over the political spectrum, there is one overwhelmingly consistent message about the US that really stands out:

The US is a desperately poor country and the only way to survive is for everyone to work harder, expect less, increase efficiency, direct everything towards producing the goods without which civilization will collapse, and make sure nobody undeserving ever takes advantage because in such a weak economy there is no excess and nothing to spare.