>"Thus, in America today, there are no broad, genuine, or accessible civilizing mechanisms left. As a simple example, America’s best universities churn out…hedge-fund traders. It’s economy is largely composed of…paper gains to the .01%. It’s media debates…climate change. And so on."<p>At least we know how to distinguish "it's" from "its"...<p>But seriously, the whole piece is silly. Our society embraces diversity of thought, that's part of its design. Yet this guy interprets that diversity as a failing. I guess he fails to grasp one aspect of the American experiment; to construct a nation where people can live in freedom even when that freedom inevitably makes things uncomfortable from time to time.<p>He points to the disagreements and extremists and claims these are somehow the harbingers of America's end.<p>He clearly hasn't studied American history. We've been arguing since our founding. We've debated everything there is to debate. We suffered a civil war and have nearly torn ourselves apart many times throughout our history.<p>America is a tremendously diverse nation so we are bound to argue with each other since we bring so many different perspectives to the table. Just because we are more aware of these debates now, just because they are most visible and visceral, doesn't mean they are a new development.<p>Our companies are some of the most powerful and innovative in the world, and our universities are the best in the world. We have produced and continue to produce fundamental breakthroughs in science and technology.<p>The American experiment is not over, regardless of how much this guy wishes it was.