It has long been my view that most contemporary American movies teach some silly things about life. Particularly, virtually every action movie–and a not inconsiderable number of other types of films, including dramas and comedies–will have a plotline which goes something like: bad guy does something bad, good guy appears and has small success, setback, another success, setback, apparently large success, huge problem–everyone tied up, with the villain ready to do whatever bad thing he was going to do–then POOF, a miracle.
In Jonah Hex, there they are tied up on the boat, and she gets loose, and they somehow have no guards watching them. It reminds you of the scene in Austin Powers where Dr. Evil’s son is telling him just to shoot Austin, or at least watch the seabass with lasers kill him, but he refuses, and of course Powers escapes, as of course did James Bond.
Harry Potter makes a silly error, jumping into a frozen lake by himself. Ron appears from nowhere, to save him. They get themselves incarcerated, then POOF–literally–Dobbie appears.
The subtext of this theme, repeated ad nauseum, is that no matter how bad the spot you get yourself into, somehow, something will happen. This does happen in the real world, but it is not a plan, and it is not common. A homicide cop once told me that most of the time the person who looks like they did it, did it. And most of the time what ought to happen–given a set of social, economic, and political circumstances–does. Unless those with principles have spent a long time and lot of effort sculpting things their way, things won’t go their way.
All nations end. This is a historical fact. At some point–2 years or a 1,000 or 10,000 years from now–America will be a largely forgotten memory. The human race itself may be gone.
So in looking at the future, we need to remember it is not a question of if, but when. And given that, we need to not foolishly place our faith in some savior to appear from nowhere, but in prior proper planning combined with energetic execution.