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That we are in the midst of crisis
is now well understood.
Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network
of violence and hatred.
Our economy is badly weakened,
a consequence of greed and irresponsibility
on the part of some,
but also our collective failure to make hard choices
and prepare the nation for a new age.
Homes have been lost;
jobs shed, businesses shuttered.
Our healthcare is too costly;
our schools fail too many;
and each day brings further evidence
that the ways we use energy
strengthen our adversaries
and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis,
subject to data and statistics.
Less measurable
but no less profound
is a sapping of confidence
across our land --
a nagging fear that
America's decline
is inevitable, that
the next generation must lower its sights.