Summary: An Imminent and Severe Crisis

 

“If some people have been to bring about the destruction of humanity just for a moment's self-satisfaction, God would be saddened.”

 

Foreword

  We are currently facing a serious crisis. Furthermore, the arrogance of major powers has become increasingly intolerable, making the situation even more dangerous. If we and the American people do not take action now, it will be too late for the world.

“Make the world and people happy again!”

 

 

 

The World is in Crisis　　　Summary of Chapter 1

 

  We are facing more than 10 global crises. These include an increase in wars and conflicts, the rise of authoritarian states, widening economic inequality, the recurrence of massive financial crises, the covert activities of speculative capital, the growing severity of global warming, the threat of the AI revolution following the IT revolution, intensifying domestic divisions (right-wing populism), and the fragmentation of the global cooperative framework.

 

However, the most pressing issue is the rise of authoritarianism in the United States; if this process is allowed to run its course, it will lead to the ruin not only of the United States but of the entire world.

 

 

 

Humanity Has Overcome Crises in the Past　　　　Summary of Chapter 2

 

　Looking at the United States today, it may seem as if there is no hope, but humanity has overcome various crises time and time again. Countless nations that have signed peace treaties to end wars; people who have nonviolently won their independence from dictators and the aggression of major powers; reformers who have sought to bridge the widening gap between rich and poor; painful responses to recurring financial crises; multilateral cooperation to address pollution and environmental destruction; workers who overcame conflicts during the Industrial Revolution to continue building democratic societies; outstanding leaders who prevented social division before it arose; and the establishment of international organizations that continue to contribute to world peace and happiness—these are all examples.

 

　For thousands of years, we, as humanity, have overcome crises, hardships, and conflicts between societies and nations to achieve greater peace and happiness. If we act with wisdom, a path will surely open up.

 

 

 

The Crisis We Face　　　Summary of Chapter 3

 

However, since the beginning of the 21st century, the world has been rapidly deteriorating.

 

 　Let’s address the most pressing issues. First is Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. This is typical of dictators, and if left unchecked, it will lead to a repeat of the world war caused by Hitler. What we must be wary of is the high likelihood that Trump has ties to Putin (this becomes clear when the facts are pieced together).

 

In many countries, the rampant excesses of speculative capital and tax evasion—which are gaining momentum—are fueling growing inequality and inflation, while cuts to social welfare programs are compounding the hardship faced by citizens.

 

Global warming is already on the verge of reaching a point of no return. Although this will be a long-term battle, we must make up for lost time in implementing preventive measures starting now.

 

The AI revolution that has just begun will likely make a significant contribution to humanity if it is properly controlled. However, AI that surpasses human understanding is highly likely to become humanity’s greatest threat, and this fear has already begun to materialize. If left unchecked, it will become unmanageable.

 

　To make matters worse, as the American Dream crumbled in the United States—the nation the world relied on most—and poverty and deaths from despair increased, a storm of division raged, ultimately leading to the emergence of Trump’s dictatorship. The root cause of this American tragedy is deeply entrenched in the economies of many developed nations; right-wing populism is sweeping through these countries, and the world is becoming increasingly divided.

 

 

 

Crises That Require Immediate Action　　　Summary of Chapter 4

 

 By unraveling the mystery of “Why have Americans continued down such a tragic path?” we can see a way out from it.

 

There are three key points.

 

 The reason the vast majority of the public lost hope and found life increasingly difficult stems from neoliberalism, which began in the 1980s (initiated by Republican President Reagan). Over many years, an unregulated free market—which abandons workers (including through cuts to welfare policies), the abolition of progressive taxation, and a focus on the financial sector—has allowed the wealthy and large corporations to prosper and grow out of proportion. This fueled inflation, led to policies being controlled by the wealthy and large corporations, and ultimately resulted in wages for the majority of the population failing to rise. This problem is common to developed nations such as Japan and Europe, and will eventually become a major issue.

 

Although globalization and the IT revolution have also played a role, the number of employed people continued to grow steadily even during this period. The problem was that workers were unable to successfully transition to higher-paying jobs. The Nordic countries have handled this situation effectively. The U.S. Republican Party took no action whatsoever. The Democratic Party promoted higher education as a response to the knowledge-based society, but the results were limited. While immigration has led to somewhat lower wages in low-skilled jobs, it has undoubtedly contributed to the U.S. economy and addressed the challenges of an aging population. The deterioration of public safety in some areas is more attributable to the failure to address economic disparities caused by discrimination.

 

Unchecked freedom led to corruption and monopolies, resulting in an irreparable tragedy for the people.

 

 

　The second reason is that various smokescreens have been used to conceal these facts. There has been a flood of “alternative facts” that the Republican Party and big corporations (including FOX) have been spreading for years, and Trump brought it to its culmination. The establishment (laughter) concocted a simplistic conspiracy theory—the “Deep State”—to brainwash the public, but society had become so deeply divided that people actually believed it, allowing right-wing populism to gain a foothold.The Trump phenomenon was an inevitable outcome. This history of “alternative facts” began with efforts to discredit the New Deal, and is symbolized by claims that Freon gas and tobacco are harmless, as well as persistent denials that climate change is occurring. Furthermore, since the 21st century, with the advent of the internet and social media, people have become more susceptible to being incited by fake news and anger, leading to the manipulation of elections.

 In addition, with the Supreme Court dominated by conservatives, money-driven elections have become the norm, further it has become increasingly favorable to the vested interest groups.

 

In this way, the American people lost sight of the truth and became manipulated.

 

　The third is Christian fundamentalism (restorationism and nostalgia), which is unique to the United States. While Christianity in Europe has become increasingly secularized, this denomination in the U.S.—a remnant of the Western frontier era—places great emphasis on conversion (a passion so intense it overwhelms reason), and has repeatedly shaken American society, spurred by fervor. This was fueled by a sense of crisis stemming from the massive influx of non-white immigrants and the liberal human rights movement—as symbolized by the post-war Red Scare (Communism). Their extreme fear and hostility have fueled many overseas invasions. Furthermore, given the large number of wealthy Jews in the United States, the belief in Armageddon—which leads to support for Israel—has likely gained momentum as well.

 

 By co-opting this sect into the electoral process, the Republican Party expanded its influence and gained greater freedom, as its policies no longer had to be based on scientific or logical conclusions. In fact, this tactic is employed in many beleaguered nations, where vested interests seeking to regain power have succeeded by co-opting fundamentalist religious sects. Islamic fundamentalism in Saudi Arabia, Putin’s Russian Orthodox Church, and similar movements in Israel, Iran and India are all examples of this. While this alliance offers many benefits to those in power and to religious sects, it will undoubtedly be a tragedy for the people. This religious issue is likely to continue causing serious problems in the future.

 

Religion brings peace to communities and people, but it often blinds them.

 

 

 

If Left Unchecked, It Will Become the Greatest Crisis: How Should We Confront It?　

Summary of Chapter 4 and 5

 

　If the American people fail to restore political normalcy in these midterm elections, they will likely never be able to recover through nonviolent means again.I sincerely hope that the United States will demonstrate its conscience to the world. If it fails to do so, the possibility that Putin, Trump, Israel, China, and North Korea will plunge the world into a cauldron of war will become a very real threat. Furthermore, it will become impossible to prevent numerous other major crises.

 

I implore all sensible Americans to respect science and the truth, to reject this utterly immoral individual, and to restore the free and democratic society that once held so much hope and success. Young people in the United States are currently facing ongoing hardships, and while securing their daily bread may take priority over saving the world or preventing dictatorship, Trump will only make things worse. The reason is clear. Whether it’s his grandstanding and lies, his unscientific and illogical views, his lack of understanding of policy, or his egotism and self-righteousness—no matter which aspect you consider, it’s obvious that he is unfit to lead in the difficult times ahead.

 

Hitler captivated the nation with his speeches, but he was, after all, just an art student and a private soldier—a complete amateur when it came to policy. In the early days, In the early days, there were talented individuals around him, and they were able to implement policies effectively, but later they were purged by Hitler. Trump’s business career has been marked by a string of bankruptcies and the frequent use of SLAPP lawsuits, and he has managed to get by in part because of that. You should avoid people who are not trustworthy.

 

 

 

In Conclusion

  It will not be easy for the United States to recover, but looking at the world and at history, it is by no means impossible. Unfortunately, the bureaucrats at the heart of Japan’s government are inward-looking, so they are of no help in the face of a crisis like this. I apologize for that. However, there is hope, as the social systems of the Nordic welfare states serve as a useful model.

 

Thank you for reading my work for so long.