It has been stated by many economists for decades that the United States is on a serious decline. Since the turn of the millennium (and even before), millions of working class manufacturing jobs have been lost to outsourcing brought about by globalist free-trade policies promoted by many presidents on both sides of the political aisle. The American middle class, suffering for decades, was once the backbone of the national economy and a clear indicator of domestic prosperity. Wages have stagnated for years, and while median income markedly increased during the four years in which Donald Trump was president, his predecessors and his successor, Joe Biden have done little to assist the flailing working class.
At the international level, things are just as chaotic as at home. Biden, appearing incoherent and incompetent, has utterly failed to prevent foreign adversaries of America and the western world from taking aggressive actions globally. Following Bidens disgraceful and disorganized withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 in which 13 American servicemembers died, key rival powers such as Russia and China have taken threatening stances in international affairs. China most recently flew an aerial mission against the island of Taiwan. Beijing repeatedly has made threatening statements towards America claiming it should not interfere in the growing and tense situation between the island and the Asian superpower. Russia remains engaged in a bloody and stalemated conflict in Ukraine.
Paired with this, the United States military is in a serious decline, and most Americans have increasingly less confidence in its strength and the government at large. The ominous conditions internally and externally have impacted recruitment, and the military continues to struggle to meet enlistment quotas. In the face of this crisis, the army suspended re-enlistment bonuses to already active servicemembers for the fiscal year after reaching its target goals for renewed enlistments. While servicemembers are denied bonuses for service, billions continue to be sent to Ukraine, in a sad reality.
