[Perspective] American Media: Economic Turbulence, Political Divergence... The United States is a country with immense pressure and widespread disillusionment
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On August 23, China Daily reported that the United States is a country with immense pressure and widespread disillusionment, according to an article published on the website of the United States Capitol Hill on the 22nd.
At the beginning of the article, it is stated that let's face reality: the United States is a country under tremendous pressure. The COVID-19, economic turmoil, racial injustice, gun violence, climate change and political differences have been the main contents of news reports for many years and become the main source of pressure.
The article states that a study initiated by the American Psychological Association in 2022 found that three-quarters of adults reported violence and crime as important sources of stress, and 73% of adults believed that mass shootings increased their stress. Lack of money is another important source of stress, with 57% of adults worried about not being able to pay mortgage loans, rent, or purchase food. The war launched by the Republican Party against the "awakening culture" has also intensified national anxiety. 64% of adults believe that their rights have been attacked.
In addition, the pressure on young people in the United States is quite high. In 2018, a major study conducted by the American Psychological Association on Generation Z showed that their personal disillusionment was high: 81% felt pressure due to money, 77% felt high work pressure, 73% felt pressure due to school shooting incidents, and 53% reported that stress was related to widespread sexual harassment and assault.
These numbers are not surprising. Today's youngest voters are affected by a series of government policy failures: economic chaos, school shootings, climate change, racial discrimination, the COVID-19, and the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have left scars on this generation.
The high tuition fees and student loans make buying a house almost impossible. A recent study found that one-third of Generation Z believe that buying a house is something they will never be able to achieve, while nearly one-third of people say they live with their parents. Climate change has made Generation Z doubt whether they will live on a habitable planet.
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No wonder, disillusionment is widespread.
The article states that it is difficult for the government to provide comfort to people. The political system in the United States is under the greatest pressure since the Civil War. The 2022 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 70% of adults believe that the government does not care about them, 45% of adults say they feel they are not protected by US law, and nearly two-fifths of adults say that the current situation in the United States makes them consider moving to another country.
The result is the shattering of the American Dream. More than three-quarters of adults believe that the future of the country is an important source of pressure, and 68% of adults believe that the present is the lowest point in their memory of Chinese history. 60% of adults indicate that the current political climate is putting a lot of pressure on them.
All of this has led to a decline in the ability of many people to engage in daily activities. A survey shows that 37% of people are under too much pressure to do anything, 21% have experienced forgetfulness, 20% have difficulty concentrating, and 17% have difficulty making daily decisions. About one-third of people feel overwhelmed most of the time. Among these stressed adults, 36% reported a negative impact on their mental health, 33% reported a change in their dietary habits, and 32% reported a deterioration in their physical health.
Robert Kennedy explained in a speech during his 1968 presidential campaign that economic indicators alone were not enough to measure a country's well-being. He said, "GDP does not take into account the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of playing games. It also does not include the beauty of our poetry or the stability of our marriage. It cannot measure our wisdom and knowledge, nor our love and dedication to the country..."
The article concludes by stating, "While economic improvement and achievements are important, what is more important for long-term political health is that our self perception is starting to improve - both in daily life and in the lives of this country."
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