Will the US Survive the Frog? Time and History in the Pandemic and Decline.

"The Future of Decline: Anglo-American Culture at Its Limits" by Jed Esty and "The Long 2020" edited by Richard Grusin and Maureen Ryan are two books that explore the concept of decline in the United States. These books challenge the nostalgic longing for stability and greatness in the US and argue that decline can be an opportunity for social change and renewal. They also examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US, revealing the vulnerabilities and inequalities in society. The article emphasizes the importance of studying cultural narratives and formations in understanding and navigating decline, and calls for a reimagining of freedom and politics. It also discusses the decline of the US as an empire and the potential for new visions of freedom and belonging. The text highlights the need to consider both subjective experience and objective structures in analyzing the past and envisioning the future. [Extracted from the article]