As the world watches America grapple with economic divides and social tensions, the question of how to “make America great again” takes on new urgency – beyond any single political slogan. My suggestions focus on a sustainable, equitable future, addressing core challenges with practical, data-driven solutions. From boosting opportunity through education and fair wages to tackling climate change and rebuilding trust, the path forward requires bold, bipartisan action.
First, economic fairness and opportunity are crucial. The wealth divide in America is striking – Federal Reserve data reveals the top 1% controlled 30.8% of total wealth in 2024, while the bottom 50% held only 2.5%. Narrowing this gap requires boosting education and job training, particularly in marginalised areas. Expanding community colleges and vocational schools with federal funds to teach high-demand skills like renewable energy technology or AI development – fields expected to grow 8% and 37% yearly through to 2030 – could make a big difference.
Reviving economic equity means taking action: Lifting the federal minimum hourly wage, stuck at $7.25 since 2009, to a living wage (roughly $15–$20 based on region, per MIT’s Living Wage Calculator) could pull millions out of poverty. Plus, supporting small businesses – which account for 46% of the U.S. workforce – with tax breaks and simpler loan access could fuel a strong recovery after COVID.
Healthcare reform is essential. The U.S. allocates 18% of its GDP to healthcare – $4.5 trillion in 2023 – yet 26 million Americans are still uninsured, according to the Census Bureau. Introducing a public option or expanding Medicare could reduce costs and enhance access. Mental health, an escalating issue with 1 in 5 adults affected in 2023 (per the National Alliance on Mental Illness), demands increased funding – community clinics and telehealth could provide vital support. On social media, Americans frequently voice frustration over steep drug prices.
To revitalise healthcare: Allow Medicare to negotiate prices for all medications, not just a limited selection as permitted by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, potentially saving billions.
Education reform is vital for lasting greatness. U.S. students trail in global standings – PISA 2022 scores place American 15-year-olds 28th in math and 16th in reading. Boosting STEM education with more hands-on programs and teacher training is a must.
To make education great again: Offering free or debt-free college at public universities could create a fairer landscape – student debt reached $1.6 trillion in 2024, per the Federal Reserve. Plus there’s strong backing for trade schools as a practical alternative.
Climate action is critical. The U.S., the second-largest CO2 emitter, accounted for 14% of global emissions in 2023. Speeding up renewable energy adoption – solar and wind provided 14% of U.S. electricity in 2022 – could achieve net-zero targets by 2050.
To make climate action great again: Offering subsidies for electric vehicles (just 7.6% of car sales in 2023) and expanding public transit would further reduce emissions. Incentivising regenerative agriculture, which captures carbon, could also benefit farmers – only a small percentage use these methods currently.
Lastly, rebuilding social cohesion and trust in institutions is essential. Political polarisation is intense – Pew Research reported in 2024 that 72% of Republicans and 62% of Democrats viewed the other side as “immoral.” Bipartisan collaboration on issues like infrastructure or veterans’ care could help mend divides.
To restore social cohesion: Enhancing government transparency through stricter ethics laws for politicians and better public access to data could rebuild trust. Many Americans advocate for civic education to counter misinformation; requiring media literacy in schools could be a key step.
Reimagining America’s ‘greatness’ demands a commitment to equity, sustainability, and unity. By addressing economic disparities, reforming healthcare, investing in education, combating climate change, and fostering trust through bipartisan action, the nation can build a future that honours its potential. These steps – rooted in data and shared goals – offer a blueprint for progress that transcends division, ensuring America thrives for all its people. The path isn’t easy, but the stakes couldn’t be higher.
One thing is clearly certain: Donald Trump will never make America great again. He’s taking a different path.
Note: You might have guessed it already (from my recent posts), but when it comes to U.S. politics I’m a bit of a tragic. It might have something to do with me hailing from that part of the world.
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The USA grates again, and again. Her recent gift of a large sewage pond of simmering shit, the Drumpft Pox, is suffocating, choking; it is crushing trade, friendships, civilised behaviour. Surrounded by sicko-phants, this depressing president just stinks.
A recent comment in these pages noted the average life of empires, and suggested America was due to cash out its empirical chips in the near future. If the collapse of other known empires can be taken as examples of how things unfold, America’s fantasy of becoming great again is just that… an unrealistic wish for an impossibility.
America’s demise is a blessing for the rest of the planet, and few tears will be shed, karma being a cruel mistress and for a relatively young country to have accumulated the extent of karmic debt that America has in its ~250 years of existence, the pain it will inherit is the reward for its behaviour. Sad for many good Americans, but within the bounds of normality for humanity.