A distressing view of America

For my whole life, I've been a proud American citizen and, coming from a middle class background, have always been a huge believer and participant in the American Dream. Through a combination of hard work and good fortune, I've gone from summer jobs in a welding shop and electroplating factory to a successful career in finance.

In the last few years, we've seen a change in the US where we've obviously become more polarized in our views. Regardless of the cause, we don't have debates or dialogues any more. Even with friends, nobody talks about political issues - everybody just avoids the topic regardless of whether they're conservative or liberal.

I toggle back and forth between Fox News and CNN to get some sense of both sides of the argument. Tucker Carlson from Fox just wrote a book, "Ship of Fools" (link below):

https://www.amazon.com/Ship-Fools-Selfish-Bringing-Revolution-ebook/dp/B071FFRJ48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542117806&sr=8-1&keywords=ship+of+fools+tucker+carlson

While I've had friends describe Carlson as a guy who "spews hate", this book really has nothing to do with Conservative or Liberal views. What he talks about is the shift in America from an healthy ongoing debate between Democrats and Republicans to a system where wealthy people run things and just don't care about the rest of Americans. We've become a place where facts don't matter but crazy notions do. For example, after 50 years of trying to create a country where all citizens are equal, Harvard just had a "Black Only" graduation. I get the argument... but is this really much different than any race being forced to eat at different counters, ride in the back of the bus...

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/05/08/black-grad-students-harvard-hold-own-commencement-ceremony/6tGHbUjyz8vLvDNVZwzidL/story.html

I'd urge you - whether you are liberal or conservative, lover of Trump or lover of Pelosi... read this book. It's eye-opening yet fairly depressing...