indeed this i what concerns me: being trapped in a society that careens back and forth between extreme authoritarian Presidents to the far right (Trump...what other label is there for a President whose most significant achievement is a tax cut) and the far left (I suppose Obama, as well as whoever comes next).
Obama was "far left"??????
That is a way off centre view of political ideologies.
For the US he was.
For the rest of the world he was finally someone not half-insane.
And then there came Trump. History is a bitch.
Trump has succeeded in making the US Presidency irrelevant in world affairs. That's possibly the most extraordinary outcome of his term of office. I'm not sure whether there is any way back from that not just for Trump (there isn't, even if he does get a second term) but for the US Presidency as a whole and for the US position in the world.
I would say that depends on the next president.
If it is Trump again - no. The US will be burned.
If it is someone like Obama, it might be repairable.
Biden? I can't say but from little I know he won't do it.
Generally the world is moving towards a way more unpeaceful place. After the crash of the USSR everyone was busy picking up what was left by it, but that has ended with the banking crisis (or even earlier).
China is doing a "Make China Great Again" - they are no longer competetive on the work cost and have to restructure. That included (thanks to Xi Jiping) a lot more close-bordered approach and "colonies" wherever there are usefuln resources.
Lots of European countries have moved to the right, too.
Add to that the changes from the climate catastrophe and the general population increase in the southern countries, and you can easily see the increasing potential for fights (of whatever sort) happening.
And in all that there will a US that is seen as unreliable and activly damaging international cooperation.
No, you are doomed.
The main good thing America still has is a wonderful work ethic
What do you men with "wonderful work ethic"?
Last time I looked most people worked way too much.