These issues plague us all, but there is a way to limit any effects(this is what I do as a 17 yo):
Cut the provocative news intake, cut all mobile social media(only insta/facebook on computer to limit intake), and focus on taking the next step and enjoying the process.
And yeah - it's the damn phone-get them a flip phone for as long as u can.
Very nicely put, Christian Keil: "I am a proactive optimist who believes in the American Dream. I do not believe things automatically will get better, but I know that things can get better if we make them so"
The founding fathers weren’t idiots the way you seem to think they were. They would correctly identify a fraud and tyrant in our Oval Office. And they would promptly take out the trash after discovering everything he’s done to erode our Democratic Republic that they so earnestly fought for. To be fair, they’d probably do that to a few presidents. The founding fathers were not fools and neither are your readers. I’m a techo-optimist, but this is techo-delusionist. Progress is not automatic. Freedom isn’t free. And no empire lasts forever.
Our founding fathers would detect the corrupt congress and politicians. They would prosecute and stop it. They would be furious with the heavy taxing and regulations for fraud. They would see a decline in the economy and culture. The national debt is ruining the dollar and will trigger economic contraction. The bankers and economists are to blame.
Meh, your opening along was a very one sided take on something that’s not even binary. Founding fathers were not representative of what America looks like across cultures and cities today, so they wouldn’t even have the capacity to understand or compute ‘the current state of this country’ especially for ‘we the people.’ You’re probably already very familiar with the phrase ‘tech eats the world.’ So does ignorance, and your post is hardlining on that side.
I share your optimism; however, let us not be blinded. Beware of treating democratic backsliding as mere "pessimism" requiring an attitude adjustment. This is precisely the complacency that allows authoritarian consolidation. In 1933 Germany, people also marveled at progress while dismissing warnings as hysteria.
We can celebrate our filtered water and heated homes while also recognizing that we are living through a profound threat to constitutional governance. The question isn't whether America has achieved material progress. The question is whether we will preserve the democratic institutions that made that progress possible.
Our Founding Fathers wouldn't be confused by our pessimism—he'd be alarmed by the complacency.
In a related note, I've been using the latest AI models to try to "time travel" back to the past using a first person narrative and photorealistic graphics. Example from yesterday - and what's striking is the brutal reality of the day:
A Day When the Enemy Burned the White House to the Ground, 1814
There is the idea that technology is new, but of course, that isn't true. Or rather, it's always been true regardless of the era. I wrote about, now forgotten, technology of stenography recently.
Excellent piece, Christian – from Europe (Osnovid), we admire U.S. dynamism that beat the odds. Even Mississippi's GDP/capita rivals most EU nations (~$54k vs. France ~$54k, Italy ~$42k, and Germany not that much ahead at ~$60k).
"The US risks its greatest strength: allies. Europe needs partners, not subjugation – even as Trump's rhetoric strains bonds" (Mijnssen, NZZ 28.01.26).
Nice work. I will have my cynical pre-teen read this. I also appreciate the repurposing DFW’s fish story.
These issues plague us all, but there is a way to limit any effects(this is what I do as a 17 yo):
Cut the provocative news intake, cut all mobile social media(only insta/facebook on computer to limit intake), and focus on taking the next step and enjoying the process.
And yeah - it's the damn phone-get them a flip phone for as long as u can.
Christian, I read your MP slideshow - very thorough and optimistic. This makes me excited for the future. Well done!
Thanks for sharing.
I too like the optimism.
Very nicely put, Christian Keil: "I am a proactive optimist who believes in the American Dream. I do not believe things automatically will get better, but I know that things can get better if we make them so"
Proactive optimism sounds like a superpower!
Love it
Awesome take on the overall journey of American History - can be viewed as a category creator to many industries and companies! @Christian Keil
The founding fathers weren’t idiots the way you seem to think they were. They would correctly identify a fraud and tyrant in our Oval Office. And they would promptly take out the trash after discovering everything he’s done to erode our Democratic Republic that they so earnestly fought for. To be fair, they’d probably do that to a few presidents. The founding fathers were not fools and neither are your readers. I’m a techo-optimist, but this is techo-delusionist. Progress is not automatic. Freedom isn’t free. And no empire lasts forever.
Our founding fathers would detect the corrupt congress and politicians. They would prosecute and stop it. They would be furious with the heavy taxing and regulations for fraud. They would see a decline in the economy and culture. The national debt is ruining the dollar and will trigger economic contraction. The bankers and economists are to blame.
Meh, your opening along was a very one sided take on something that’s not even binary. Founding fathers were not representative of what America looks like across cultures and cities today, so they wouldn’t even have the capacity to understand or compute ‘the current state of this country’ especially for ‘we the people.’ You’re probably already very familiar with the phrase ‘tech eats the world.’ So does ignorance, and your post is hardlining on that side.
I share your optimism; however, let us not be blinded. Beware of treating democratic backsliding as mere "pessimism" requiring an attitude adjustment. This is precisely the complacency that allows authoritarian consolidation. In 1933 Germany, people also marveled at progress while dismissing warnings as hysteria.
We can celebrate our filtered water and heated homes while also recognizing that we are living through a profound threat to constitutional governance. The question isn't whether America has achieved material progress. The question is whether we will preserve the democratic institutions that made that progress possible.
Our Founding Fathers wouldn't be confused by our pessimism—he'd be alarmed by the complacency.
Love this!
In a related note, I've been using the latest AI models to try to "time travel" back to the past using a first person narrative and photorealistic graphics. Example from yesterday - and what's striking is the brutal reality of the day:
A Day When the Enemy Burned the White House to the Ground, 1814
https://directorblue.substack.com/p/a-day-when-the-enemy-burned-the-white
"it's fine. everything is fine. we have affordable vanilla scented candles."
There is the idea that technology is new, but of course, that isn't true. Or rather, it's always been true regardless of the era. I wrote about, now forgotten, technology of stenography recently.
https://hanakg.substack.com/p/ode-to-technology-how-stenography
Excellent piece, Christian – from Europe (Osnovid), we admire U.S. dynamism that beat the odds. Even Mississippi's GDP/capita rivals most EU nations (~$54k vs. France ~$54k, Italy ~$42k, and Germany not that much ahead at ~$60k).
Trump's bombast tests transatlantic bonds though. Interesting piece recently in the NZZ for anyone who reads German: https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/spannungen-usa-und-europa-trump-setzt-weltordnung-aufs-spiel-ld.1919714
For those who don't, quick take translation:
"The US risks its greatest strength: allies. Europe needs partners, not subjugation – even as Trump's rhetoric strains bonds" (Mijnssen, NZZ 28.01.26).
Tech unites us across the pond.
I love this It’s such a beautiful and earnest look at how far we have come
Phenomenal
Great Read. Thank you for taking the time to create the article and share it
Excellent piece. Great perspective.