There is no doubt that America has had thinking big ("Big Deal") as a mantra in modern times, and perhaps right from the settlement era. America has been a leader in many areas when it comes to creativity, entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. But this was particularly clear a few decades ago, while today the country is in a deep social, political and partly also economic crisis. It will be exciting to see if the people of America manage to get through the crisis and strengthen themselves to face the future.

The journalist Thomas Seltzer, who was born in America and who lives and works in Norway, has made two documentary series in 2020 and 2022 for NRK -TV (the Norwegian state channel) where he travels around the USA and talks to a wide selection of people about how they experience what is happening and has happened in the country in the last five or six years. He is clearly worried about developments in America, a country he is fond of.

Among other things, Thomas Seltzer says this about the state of affairs in America now:

"The powerlessness among today's Americans is palpable. And with that comes a good dose of suspicion as well. Both towards established politicians and not least traditional media.

This has created a very good market for those who offer alternative truths…

There is an enormous need for change in the United States, and there is a great will for change at the grassroots level. Everyone wants a better America.

"Everything is to blame", except for what I believe is the real problem in the US: That greed and money power have been allowed to run, on all levels, for far too long. (...)

All this energy that is wasted on conspiracy theories and other nonsense, and when this is also boosted by a propaganda apparatus with a lot of money in the back hand, badly losing in the front, then it no longer becomes just a frustrating spectacle, then it becomes dangerous. "

The journalist is not particularly optimistic about the future of the USA:

"What strikes me as I travel around America is that the people here now live in two very different realities. Because fuelling resentment and division has become profitable in today's America. And the constant flow of disinformation and the lack of a common perception of reality this creates is about to destroy families and communities

And I think it could tear apart the entire American democracy."

I hope he's wrong about the latter!