Axios Finish Line: U.S. not them

Axios' Jim VandeHei & Mike Allen write: We're taking a break from the chaos of news and life in January of 2026, and stepping back — way back — to think about where America stands on the 250th anniversaries of both Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" manifesto (Saturday) and the signing of our Declaration of Independence (July 4).Doom and gloom often light up our screens. But that shouldn't — and doesn't — define us. Never forget: This is a great country with exceptional promise.Why it matters: We're the most perfect, imperfect experiment in self-governance, freedom and progress in the history of humanity.Our founders fled royalty, fought wars, formed a republic and a democracy, against all odds, all logic, all hope. They built the most powerful, prosperous, promising nation known to man.This should be a bipartisan, no-brainer consensus view, despite our flaws and screwups. Too often, we get lost in only what's wrong with America, forgetting all that's right.Most people don't want power but freedom — the freedom to live free without constant judgment and drama, to work hard and make money, to feel safe, and to serve a cause greater than self. That's most people, despite what lights up your social media feed.So take three minutes this morning to simply savor what's special about this country, 250 years into its revolution.There's something special about democracy — American democracy — and its ability to evolve and meet the craziest of challenges. We free people, protect people, empower people and enrich people.... something special about capitalism — American capitalism. There's no better place to start a business, take a risk, or dream big. Here, you can build something out of nothing and rise to unimaginable heights doing what you choose to do — where you choose to do it.... something special about ingenuity — American ingenuity. It's not an accident that the world's greatest advancements and thinkers are here in the USA. It's in our collective DNA to explore, build, innovate.... something special about land — American land. Two big oceans on our shoulders and friendly neighbors to our north and south. In between, a bounty of natural resources and energy sources to power all our ambitions. Others literally die for the mere chance to live where we live — live as we live.... something special about you — Americans. You're hardworking, courageous, generous and creative. We built a democracy from dust. We willed U.S. capitalism into the most powerful economic force in history. We held the world together at its most breakable points. And we deliver daily miracles with our inventions, our wealth, our generosity.But the clock is ticking. China is rising. AI spreading. Reality fading. Politics polarizing. Threats to our way of life are metastasizing. Our minds, our happiness, our freedoms are slipping.Nowhere is it hammered in stone that America gets to be great forever.We're strong but not unbreakable. We crumble if we're divided, distracted, or deceived too deeply or too durably.Our history points the way. It was ordinary people doing extraordinary things to flee kings and tyranny, birth a democracy, build a great nation, overcome division and adversity, and allow 50 states to form and prosper as one majestic union.It was students, workers, farmers, teachers, doctors, truckers, businessmen and women, leaders of all stripes who restored sanity, valor, wisdom, hard work and common sense. They did, not duped; worked, not whined; built, not berated; restored, not ridiculed.They focused on U.S., not them. Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosJust for today, tune out the screams on screens and imagine …Imagine working together, drawing on our shared patriotism and duty, to instantly and dramatically improve an already great nation to benefit you and your neighbors.Imagine spending more time fixing stuff smartly than getting sucked into silly, small fights unwittingly.Imagine an army of competent people storming politics and business and communities to retool things so workers, the middle class and the well-to-do all prosper. Imagine no longer condemning "the rich." But giving everyone a fair shake at becoming it.Imagine turning the AI revolution into a winner for America AND workers, not just the creators and investors. Peer into the world five years from now: it will be dominated by AI, quantum computing, robotics, and space-based weapons of war.Imagine America training and recruiting the scientists, engineers and builders of these great technologies. And America winning on the defining industries of the next generation — and creating great jobs for U.S. workers.Imagine everyone making more money, living more freely, prospering more peacefully because we won the AI race and smartly spread the spoils.Imagine more Americans recapturing the lust to invent, build, and grow. One nation united in recapturing the magic of inventions and unfathomable progress.Imagine other nations flocking to our side to build a global alliance built around American ideals, American AI, American trade and American products.Imagine tapping every energy source around us to power our ambitions, using American workers and American land to lower your costs and protect your air.Imagine rural communities revitalized … suburbs soaring … cities sparkling and safe. Imagine the explosive growth to follow and the benefits finally flowing to you with better schools, better health care, affordable houses and high-paying jobs.This is the inspiring thing: This is all achievable now — not in some distant future or galaxy. America has all the ingredients: the talent, the ideas, the drive, the power. And it has you, the very people who prop up this nation, in good times and bad.Like it or not, AI will change your world in radical ways. We could crush the next five years — or get crushed by them. We can fixate on what was done — or what's ahead. We get to choose. That's what politics and policy and life are — choices. A series of big choices. Do we do smart, practical, wise things to benefit all? Or do we let people dog and divide us so they can benefit while you lose and stagnate?Imagine giving the middle finger to that old, tired way. Imagine saying: Enough is enough. Imagine joining others to restore your values of smarts, hard work and healthy ambition. Imagine America being your America, like the one you've read about in history classes: proud, surging, safe, confident and real.Imagine being numb to naysaying.Imagine sharing facts and smart solutions in conversations and on social media. Imagine fighting insanity with calm confidence and piercing truths.Imagine being part of something bigger than party or self — and doing the impossible. That's what America has always done.Imagine being a central player in doing the impossible again. That's the story we could tell the world — and the gift we leave behind.The bottom line: Imagine saying Jim and Mike aren't moronic for saying all or parts of this fairy tale are truly doable.Imagine that reason being the actual reality: 80% of Americans agree on 80% of things 80% of the time.📱Let us know what you think: jim@axios.com + mike@axios.com.Go deeper: "A message to college students," by Jim VandeHei.