‘Fundamental Transformation’ Is Complete
The number of Americans feeling patriotic is quickly falling.
Barack Obama is nearly eight years removed from his infamous proclamation, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” If surveys are any indication, he’s virtually accomplished his goal. According to a new Gallup poll, the number of people who consider themselves stalwart American patriots barely make up a majority today. The “52% of U.S. adults [who] say they are ‘extremely proud’ to be Americans” is down significantly from the 70% registered in 2003. And it’s down five percentage points from just three years ago, when 57% were extremely proud of their heritage.
Unsurprisingly, Gallup says, “The largest decline has come among young adults, from 60% to 34%. In 2003 as well as today, young adults rank among the subgroups least willing to say they are extremely proud to be Americans.” Keep in mind, young adults represented a significant portion of Obama’s support group. Fast forward to today, and Millennials largely back Bernie Sanders, whose pledge to shake up Washington nearly ended Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Isn’t it interesting that Obama’s “Hope ‘n Change” has left Americans — particularly the up and coming generation — feeling more aggrieved and disenfranchised than ever before? Young Americans are the most vulnerable and gullible of any age group. No wonder they’re the targets of “progressive” henchmen.
A big part of the problem is that patriot idealism is being redefined. That was recently elucidated by former Clintonista Robert Reich, who wrote, “We hear a lot about patriotism, especially around the Fourth of July. But in 2016, we’re hearing about two very different types of patriotism. One is an inclusive patriotism that binds us together. The other is an exclusive patriotism that keeps others out. … [W]e’re now hearing a strident, exclusive patriotism. It asserts a unique and superior 'Americanism’ that’s determined to exclude others beyond our borders.” This kind of “America isn’t exceptional” thinking is what Obama had in mind all along. And it seems to be working.
