Ha, this started after the French convinced us to join with Vietnam.

Historians point to that moment as when Americans gave up on the government.

If this is the case, it could be a blessing in disguise. After the world wars we were artificially powerful due to circumstance. A return to a more balanced politics empowers those that were underrepresented. Potentially, with a little wisdom, this facilitates a more balanced prosperity and greater overall well-being. I admit this is probably optimistic, if also possible.

and sicker and poorer

Decades of hard work and planning thrown out in less than a decade by complete and utter incompetence.

As evidenced by what? A pandemic that gripped the nation during one of our greatest economic booms ever?