Grist: There was a time when we met overarching challenges with bold public purpose and concerted action as we the people.
When the Depression hit, we created large public works projects, building roads, airports, and power dams.
When murderous tyranny threatened the world, we became the arsenal of democracy and won World War II.
When Europe was sinking in post-war turmoil, we staged the Marshall Plan to rebuild the continent.
When John Kennedy set a target to reach the moon in a decade, we...