Why Americans Are So Lonely: How Progressive Ideas Change the American Soul

People have long seen the United States as a beacon of hope and opportunity. But now it seems like the US is in a strange place. According to the Gallup World Happiness Report, America is now ranked 24th in the world in terms of happiness. This is a big drop that has led to discussions about spiritual as well as economic diseases. Tom Basile talks about this event on America Right Now as a “crisis of spirit”—a breakdown in culture that goes beyond numbers or new laws.

He said that this general decline is not just due to bad government or financial problems, but also to an ideological revolution that has slowly destroyed the basic ideas that used to hold American society together. Basile says that this change is based on a socialist view that values emotionalism, refuses tradition, and supports a society where people are alone.

What has caused a country known for its strong religious beliefs, care for its neighbors, and strong individualism to become so distant and hopeless? Basile says the answers are deeply political but also profoundly cultural and spiritual.

The Breaking Down of Tradition: How Institutions of Foundation Are Being Threatened

For thousands of years, religion, marriage, and community were the most important things in American life. Instead of just making personal choices, they were social pillars that gave people a sense of identity, purpose, and connection. Basile says that these institutions are in danger right now, mainly because of far-left ideas that see them as oppressive holdovers from an imperial or patriarchal past.

Religious faith used to be something that most people agreed on, but these days it’s considered controversial or out-of-date. People once viewed marriage as a path to maturity and safety, but now they view it as either unnecessary or restrictive. Community service has been encouraged for a long time through churches, civic groups, and family networks. However, online connections and performative action are slowly taking its place.

There are big effects from this change. This change leaves people without a way to navigate their lives. They are free, but they are also loosely connected to society and morals without the support of these groups. Basile says that the result is isolation instead of freedom.

He thinks that this loss of basic principles is especially bad for young people, who are more likely to feel worry, sadness, and psychological doubt when they don’t have the guidance of tradition. A media atmosphere that often promotes fear and disaster instead of strength and hope exacerbates this weakness.

Catastrophism in Culture: Using Fear to Keep People in Line

From Basile’s perspective, the media significantly contributes to this culture of pessimism. People are constantly told that the world is a dangerous and immoral place by the 24 hours of news that are mostly about catastrophic things happening, like climate change, pandemics, political unrest, and unfairness that is built into the system.

But the problem isn’t just the amount of negative news; it’s also how it’s viewed based on people’s beliefs. According to Basile, far-left ideas make disasters seem worse than they really are and use fear as a way to control people, which goes beyond just reporting on them. People in this pessimistic society think they are helpless victims of stronger systems, which takes away their freedom and makes them more dependent on ideological saviors.

The story is clear: you are being mistreated; the world is against you; your unhappiness is not your fault; it’s a matter of fairness and systemic change. Systematic criticism has its place, but Basile warns that this kind of message can make liberals feel hopeless, especially young liberals and liberal women who take it in the most.

What it means to be a victim: the psychological cost of ideological preaching

One of Basile’s most controversial claims is that communist ideas are not only politically wrong but also bad for your mental health. Drawing on Marxist ideas, he says that far-left stories make people consider themselves to be victims instead of strong agents.

This perspective can teach people to be helpless, even if it’s veiled in words like fairness and empathy. It makes people less likely to look inside themselves when they are told that their problems are mostly caused by unfair systems and that making changes for themselves comes after group complaints.

Basile uses data from Pew Research to support this idea, showing that 56% of young, white, liberal women had been diagnosed with a mental health problem. He thinks this number shows that ideologies are hurting people, even though a link does not mean a cause. Church, history, and stable families often isolate these people. As a result, they find themselves in a psychological twilight, full of moral outrage but without any inner peace.

Online action and identity-based politics may give people a sense of belonging, even if they are temporary and staged at times. Profound human needs like safety, connection, and meaning are still not being met, which leads to more reports of anxiety, sadness, and loneliness.

Admitting fault when you’re at fault

One of the more subtle points made by Basile is that far-left ideologies make people less responsible for their actions. In a culture where every tragedy can be blamed on capitalism, sexism, racism, or Donald Trump, there is no reason to think about yourself or grow as a person.

Instead of thinking about how to become stronger, more organized, or more emotionally grounded, we teach people to vent their anger at others. This externalizing might give people a break for a while, but eventually it keeps them stuck in a loop of guilt and discontent.

Basile thinks this is one of the main problems with progressive philosophy: it criticizes without taking action, and it diagnoses without treating. Still, the focus is on criticizing existing structures instead of building new ones, which would really make people happy.

Especially when it comes to personal growth, this relationship is terrible. Being unhappy is impossible if you don’t believe in your own power and feel moral and spiritual duty. In a culture that frequently mocks social norms, people increasingly lose sight of or disregard these paths.

A Different Path: Conservative women are said to be in great health and happiness

Basile discusses traditional women, highlighting their distinct differences from the unhappy individuals depicted earlier. He thinks that these women are more likely to be married, involved in their church, financially stable, and, most importantly, happy.

Basile says that the numbers back the theory up, even though some would dismiss it as anecdotal or politically convenient. Surveys indicate that conservatives are happier than liberals, and they also show that religious people are happier than nonreligious people.

So far, the main idea seems clear: traditional values still offer a solid foundation for personal growth, even though they are sometimes criticized or laughed at in public. When people are married, they have someone to talk to and a plan. Faith gives us direction and hope. Community brings people together and makes them feel like they belong.

Basile says that these aren’t just old artifacts. They are timeless sources of meaning that are a refreshing change from the loneliness that plagues modern life. In addition, they are critical for women because changes in society often make them feel worse than men do.

Looking Outside: Models of Happiness Around the World Based on Custom Traditions

It’s even more shocking to compare the US to countries with political or economic issues but better emotional well-being. For example, when it comes to happiness, countries like Mexico and Costa Rica often do better than the US.

In what ways do these countries connect? Basile says that the countries’ commitment to family, society, and faith is key. People feel encouraged and important in places where they regularly practice their religion, have large families, and value human connections.

Even though these communities don’t have as much money as America, they have a spiritual wealth that is difficult for modern, secular, hyper-individualistic countries to copy. Basile sees this as a warning: if America keeps rejecting its core values, it will lose not only money but also its emotional and spiritual health.

What Religion Does: Easter as a Call to Come Back

There is a spiritual call to arms at the end of Basile’s speech, which fits perfectly with the Easter season. Instead of getting angry at someone who disagrees with them, he tells his viewers to pray, show kindness, and grow as people.

He tells us that Easter is more than just a holiday; it’s a sign of resurrection, rebirth, and new life. These ideas give you a way to heal during a time when you feel generally alone and disconnected. Getting back in touch with their faith can help them find their way again. Respected family values will foster love and security. Putting together local groups again helps fix the relationships that modern life has damaged.

The attraction of Basile is not just political but also pastoral. He tells people in the U.S. to turn away from the divisive rhetoric of the cultural war and remember the virtues that made their country great, like faith, family, courage, and personal responsibility.

Last Thought: Strength through shared values instead of shared beliefs

In a broken culture, it’s easy to pick a side and insult the other person. But Basile’s main idea is more about making things right than about getting even. Instead of getting rid of liberal views, he wants to bring back old truths that cut across party lines.

Modern life doesn’t have to be full of lonely people all the time. It indicates that people have made personal, cultural, and moral decisions that have kept them from doing the things that really make them happy. Fortunately, we have the power to alter these choices.

Society can begin to heal when people choose to connect with others instead of being alone, have faith instead of pessimism, and take responsibility for their actions instead of feeling like victims. The US may one day rise in happiness scores and inspire hope for the world.

Finally, the path ahead is spiritual rather than political. And the first step on that path is to go back to the principles that gave our lives meaning in the first place.