Parts of this seem to be an feckless polemic.  For example, from the closing two paragraphs:

What will happen when citizens perceive the U.S. juggernaut to be hurtling into a chasm?

Answer: the public will vote the bums out of office.

The public may be confused from time to time, but contrary to the opinions of some political activists, Abraham Lincoln was surely correct: the public is not stupid. We are a social species, and overwhelming evidence indicates that perception and intelligence are not so differentially distributed among us as propagandists would have us believe. We can and must address issues of our survival honestly and realistically, whatever the consequences.

I agree with this.  The people generally make good decisions--not always.  But from 1994 to today, the American public has elected Houses of Congress that are increasingly conservative, and Republican, for six straight elections.  They've done the same in 2 of 3 Presidential elections.  Since 9/11, two victories in the House of Congress, and one in the Presidential election.  And though I can't see how the Democrats could possibly suffer another loss in November of this year,,,,they still have to actually win.  So the author professes to believe the public will make the right choice,,,he/she must realise he is saying the Republican/Conservatives have been the right choice (after all ole Abe would certainly agree six straight victories can't be wrong)--which of course the author is not saying, but it's a non sequitar in the concluding paragraph.