Ever heard the phrase "American exceptionalism"? Young Americans don't believe we're exceptional

When I was a kid most Americans seemed to believe in a thing called "American exceptionalism."  You don't hear that term today, and surveys show young Americans do NOT believe our nation is exceptional in any way. 

I used to trust most of "official America:" My representatives and senators (at least a little).  I used to trust the president to be at least minimally competent and patriotic. I used to mostly trust the people who worked for my city or town.  Mostly trusted the police. 

I used to trust that our government would keep known thugs and crazies off the streets, so my family could walk around without being randomly attacked for no reason.  So people who'd been convicted of six DUIs would be in prison for life instead of free to kill when yet again driving drunk.

I used to trust the governor to run the state halfway decently.  I used to trust that most judges, and the people who choose which judge hears which cases, were at least mostly honest and not corrupt.

Not anymore--because somehow, gradually, the attitude of all of the above has shifted, from being at least minimally honest to seemingly focused solely on gaining wealth and power, at the expense of ordinary (i.e. not connected) citizens.

Our trust in all levels of what's amusingly called "our" government--and by extension, our trust in each other--has been so eroded by a seemingly endless stream of betrayals and lies that we no longer trust in the inherent goodness...the inherent superiority...of what was once called American exceptionalism.

Even the president has taken bribes from foreign governments, selling "influence."  The evidence is overwhelming.  Yet the Lying Mainstream Media buries the evidence--and in doing so is destroying America, down to the village clerk lining his pockets with the change from our parking meters (true story), or building inspectors taking bribes (another true story).  The list is endless.

Again, surveys show young Americans do NOT believe our nation is exceptional in any way. Corruption, Leftist lies and a scheming, lying Media have turned this once exceptional nation into just a wealthier version of a banana republic. 

Source. CBD at Ace of Spades

https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=409848