Over two centuries ago, Adam Smith, the economist and philosopher, reminded follow Scotsmen that strong, stable countries can survive the pounding like the U.S. has suffered over the past few years.

“There’s a lot of ruin in a nation.”

A Robust and Stable Country

America may be continually tested, but it has deep reserves of strength, Charles Lipson councils in Spectator:

In trying times, like the late 1960s and early 2020s, it is important to remember just how robust and stable our country is. We are finally emerging from the Covid years — so badly mishandled by public health “experts” — with school shutdowns (much beloved by teachers’ unions) both damaging to students and unnecessary (as Catholic schools proved).

Now, we are struggling with inflation, rising interest rates, and slow growth. We will survive those, too.

The Supreme Court – a Source of Optimism

The Court’s conservative majority seems determined to rein in excessive bureaucratic rulemaking untethered to duly passed laws. The key questions are whether the president can effectively write laws on his own and whether Congress has the authority to delegate so much of its lawmaking responsibility to unelected bureaucrats.

Biden’s Lack of Legal Authority

A clear test of presidential powers will arise over Biden’s half-trillion dollar giveaway on student loans, a massive expenditure that normally requires laws passed by Congress. The lower courts have already rejected the president’s overreach, and the Supreme Court is likely to as well.

Look at Russia/Ukraine

Mr. Lipson also views the Russia/Ukraine conflict with optimism:

The United States and its NATO partners have offered that country substantial support for its struggle against Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Russia’s effort to conquer its sovereign neighbor has been a disgusting display of deliberate, inhumane attacks on innocent civilians.

The West’s response has been slow and careful — at significant cost of Ukrainian lives — but that caution is meant to avoid Russian escalation that could spread to other countries and lead to direct battlefield confrontation between Russian and NATO troops. American support for Ukraine has not been unanimous. Populist, nationalist Republicans have opposed military aid, as have far-left Democrats (for different reasons). But wiser heads in both parties have prevailed.

Will Wiser Heads Prevail?

… America’s future is far brighter than its critics on the left and right say. That is the message voters are sending both parties. They know there is much ruin in a nation, but they are not eager to find out just how much.