Hope at the present comes from young people, not only in the US, but worldwide. Millennials, Gen Xers, and the youth born in the twenty-first century—but especially activist girls and women—have grown weary of judicial maneuvering, and political and election manipulations. They have grown frustrated with the extra slow action on climate change. In the US, they are doing their research and spreading their opinions on a country favoring billionaires with strong allegiance to the National Rifle Association.

The optimistic youth want good government, good education and training, and a beneficial economic system that provides good paying jobs and a future for all. They want to address climate change immediately in an intelligent manner. To do this, they know we must contend with giant corporations, petroleum companies, and favored financial elites that have a powerful hold on the American economy and electoral system. They are beginning to understand the extent to which American capitalism is manipulating the world. That includes politicians that are altering policies owing to the hidden forces contributing money.

These groups of young people, most Americans, and indeed nearly all the people of the world realize if democracy is to survive, wars must come to an end and the powerful north American and European countries must be contended with. They understand that obsolete political systems must adapt to a new age if the planet is to survive. A surprisingly large percentage recognizes that western power blocs are holding back necessary changes, deceiving people, and concentrating wealth into a tiny fraction of the population.

Most scholars, analysts, authorities, and governments around the world realize that the US is a current empire in relative decline. The evidence is overreach and the numerous destructive and futile wars it has initiated. It is the subtle meddling in other countries’ affairs—even to the point of changing their governments. The massive debt the US has incurred as a result goes along with these international symptoms of a country gone awry. Diplomatic and social precedents the US has displayed recently to the world is an embarrassment and a disgrace to its history and legacy.

Collectively, the United Nations and a significant portion of the world’s leaders and populations are now taking an alarming view of what the US has gotten involved in—especially the wars. They are alarmed at the obsolete actions.

They especially take a disquieting view of the speed at which the world’s climate deterioration has accelerated and the lack of attention it was receiving among much of the US elite.

The young people are generally optimistically oriented. They believe they can change what is wrong with America. They believe they can work with the UN and activist countries to begin changing conditions that are threatening life on earth. To begin with, they want to understand how we arrived at this point. They want to know why we are having so much difficulty changing and adapting. They believe the US must realize, admit, and understand that hegemon is an obsolete concept.

The analysts, authorities, and quite a few outstanding leaders from other countries use precise examples and data, laying out how the US can reverse its relative decline without war. They emphasize that the time has come to promote real peace, real democracy, and cooperation with all countries.

America can no longer ignore the fact that the disastrous Middle East wars the US put into operation caused millions of refugees to flee their countries. This onslaught of refugees is severely disrupting many democracies, especially in Europe. They are causing rapid social changes, sometimes harmful. They are the driving force behind an unhealthy diversion to democracies.

America is not paying enough attention to those affected. It is not paying enough attention to environmental damage and the foul weather destruction it has contributed to. It is not paying enough attention to the droughts, the fires, the flooding, dying coral reefs and the sea-level rise.

Writers are the “keepers of the gate.” The purpose of the work herein is to analyze and provide details of the problems. It will use historical examples to clarify how humanity has arrived at this passage. It will also provide benevolent examples of responses and actions that other countries and people are pursuing to address the problems. There are numerous illustrations of these ideas—some of them excellent, especially those that can reverse climate change and save the world’s environment.