Any number of things may happen in the next year or so and because of the uncertainty created by that any predictions can be difficult. It is how the society responds to these events that determines success or failure.
Now when you talk about success or failure, the terms are somewhat meaningless unless you define them. Clearly each individual needs to decide what the terms mean to them but what is harder is what they mean to the society as a whole. The reason that becomes difficult because the overall society benefit is sometimes contrary to the benefit of part of that society.
If you ignore the problem of individual interests for a bit, you could probably get broad agreement on the following goals:
Educational opportunities for everyone.
Health Care for everyone.
Full employment.
National Security against foreign aggression
Clean air
Affordable energy
Good transportation systems
Now this list is certainly not all inclusive but it covers quite a bit. Now, in each of these areas the big arguments often become an argument between the haves and the have nots.
If you have a job, you don't want to pay higher taxes in order to get someone else a job. The immediate impact of that is that you are poorer. Now, ultimately, having more people employed creates greater demand and in some way the increased economic activity will probably have a positive impact on you at some point, either a better raise or more security or possibly increase house valuations, but that long term impact is vague and the short term impact is vivid.
As a society we have to decide if we can get past the short term self interest and take the actions needed for long term success.
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