The Patient has gone through some really tough times since its Family was formed 250 years ago. The Patient was initially required by its Family to fight for its ability to attain self-rule, starting on July 4, 1776. By 1790, after years of bloody battles, the Patient had a Constitution. The Family was momentarily proud of its direction. However, the Patient/Family seemed to be unable to enjoy its peaceful existence for very long. Different external forces compelled it to fight on a fairly frequent schedule, with emerging mixed feelings about again fighting from the Family.

In fact, according to the Patient’s chart, it has rarely not been compelled to fight one or another external force far from home, subjected to Family frictions and factions as an ongoing internal conflict. The Patient’s health is always related to its Family, and now in year 250 the Family has gotten quite large. And rarely even remotely unified.

The Patient’s chart shows, since its Revolutionary War that ended in 1783, its Family appears unable to collaborate to solve its conflicts at home or abroad. It always has its Patient but the Patient’s health is always subject to how its Family acts. And seldom does it create a Patient programmed for peace and prosperity. Just look at the chart below!

The Quasi-War (1798–1800

First Barbary War (1801-1805)

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Indian Wars (1817-1898)

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

American Civil War (1861-1865)

Spanish -American War (1898)

World War I (1917-1918)

World War II (1941-1945)

Korean War (1950-1953)

Vietnam War (1964-1975)

Gulf War (1990-1991)

War In Afghanistan (2001-2021)

Iraq War (2003-2011)

Operation Inherent Resolve (2014-present)

Yemeni Civil War (2016–present)

Iran War (March 1, 2026-present)

“Smaller” conflicts include the Second Barary War (1815), Mexican Border Period (1916-17) along with interventions in Panama, Grenada, Somalia and Venezuela.

Currently, the Patient is now weakened with battle fatigue. Its Family is severly devided and in disarray. Its Patient is nothing but disarray, lacking any semblence of leadership, and the enobling characteristics of decorum and statemanship a Leader–until recent years–was assumed able to project, at least in appearance and tone. Until this moment, what the Family would typically produce was a Patient who embodied, at least superficially, a formal, self-aware, competent avatar.

Some Family members are satisfied with the blunt, impulsive, belligerant characteristics of the Patient right now. Others are mortified, horrified, anxious, and demonstrtively protesting, causing the Patient to act ever more irradically. Never has the Patient been so unconventional and troublesome. The disorganized Family and its thrashing and incoherent Patient have much of the world aghast at this situation. While 250 years ago the Patient/Family fought with muskets and bayonets, this version has nuclear weapons large enough in numer to destroy the planet. It tends to pick fights with opponents that also have nuclear arsenals or their allies do. The Family has lost its way. Its Patient has lost its mind.

As a natural born member of the Family, I am hoping we can address this Patient’s condition in a most urgent way. The Patient grows weaker in its now mostly predictable actions and words. It is now quite possible it will harm anyone, anywhere for whatever impulsive intent. Unfortunately, there are still enough supportive Family members with influence not concerend with the now incredibly dangerous Patient. If the Family cannot control the dangerous behavior of its Patient, there is an inevitabilty awaiting one and all.

This Patient needs be removed and restrained relentlessly, so that we may expect all to be treated as intended by way of that Constitution ratified back in 1790. But much house cleaning is needed. For that matter the house in which the Patient/Family currently occupy warrants the wrecking ball. It may be 1776 redux, but it has to happen and sooner than later. Impatience is now palpable.

As a country, the quote It is never too late to become what you might have been comes to mind. Tick tick tick…