“Presumably man's spirit should be elevated if he can better review his shady past and analyze more completely and objectively his present problems.”

Presumably, it couldn't hurt, or maybe hmm. I like it

We perhaps shouldn't dwell to much on the past mistakes we've made but should try to learn from them and not repeat them. I believe that constantly grinding on past mistakes is a form of self pity.

jim, exactly

In the 1950s and '60s an American's spirit could be elevated by the progress being made but an objective evaluation of where the U. S. is going now is disspiriting indeed. And it is neither going socialist or democratic.

Good, but the horse has bolted... The only way in which man's spirit can in future be elevated is by a rebirth (an American Renaissance), and, under the present regime and future regimes, this is very unlikely to happen in the near future. There was a period in the late 60s that had possibilities for a true rebirth but this was squashed by the capitalists and their everlasting thirst for wealth. If we are to learn then I'm afraid there is only one road and that is into the abyss because from there we stand a chance of being reborn.

Thank you, RBESRQ. It's always refreshing to read informed views.

dick & RBESRQ WHAT? The nationalizing of industry or exaggerating power into a centralized hegemony is not socialistic? Exaggerating the the loss of freedom and liberty (liberal / neocon - compelled compliance, licensing, victimless crimes, governmentally accepted larceny, loss of allodial ownership, individual sovereignty and rights, and non recognition of law and justice) hasn't been done with democracy's, majority acceptance? Just another liberal example of word / concept re-definition for the argumentum ad hominem mis-direction of refreshing informed views.