Could be, but no. No, I am referring to the fact that our economy and our role as the worlds last superpower has changed dramatically over the past few decades and we haven't adjusted to that reality (or "norm").
Excuse me for misunderstanding. That's not what the word "norm" means.
There are a host of reforms that are badly needed to make us more competitive and efficient as a nation IMO and we haven't embraced them, including but not limited to:
Our dramatic overspending on national "defense" compared to the rest of the developed world
Okay, I can understand why you think we spend too much on our military. That's reasonable.
Our three decade long addiction to deficit spending
Our deficit spending and national debt are both unremarkable relative to the size and level of development of our economy:
It's certainly not an unhealthy addiction, any more than a corporation funding itself with bonds.
Reforms in social security
Because all of those nations waiting to leapfrog us in ... something ... have social services figured out? There's a balance to be maintained between social services and
ridiculously oppressive taxes, which I'm sure you grasp if you think the US is going to capsize any second now from issuing treasury bonds. If you think you have an answer that respects both constraints, the politicians and economists of the world would love to hear it.
Reforms in health care
Because all of those nations waiting to leapfrog us in ... something ... have healthcare figured out? Even without the revenue argument, I think there's a compelling case to be made for our public health system given that we live as long as we do in a nation full of unexercising, smoking white-bread-eating soda-drinkers. Yes, it's
expensive, but changing who pays for it doesn't change that.
Underfunding of government pensions
I don't think this is near the significance you think it is. I've never seen a compelling argument that pensions have a meaningful magnitude relative to the economy.
Neglect of infrastructure
Again, compared to who or what? We maintain our infrastructure to the extent that we're willing to pay for it with taxes or borrow to do so. Neglect is relative to countries that pay twice the tax we do, and that tax burden holds back the economy.
Overhauling education to address the jobs of the 21st century (we are sorely lacking in apprenticeship programs, for example)
We're certainly not sorely lacking in spots in the world's top 100 university lists. There also are only so many jobs that need internships - I think the ratio of jobs that could benefit from internships to wistful New York Times editorialists is what's unusual. But if you have a compelling argument that our real economy would grow significantly more quickly if only more kids wanted to be plumbers' apprentices, I'd love to hear it.
I started using the term "lost decade" during the end of the Bush era, and I don't think we are any closer to being out of the woods under the current administration as we were the one before it. We as a nation (both left and right) have lost our way these past twelve years.
I disagree. The only thing that's not
even better today than twelve years ago is the hurt feelings and shitty attitudes of pundits.