"We were at the peak of human achievement, then 2008 happened."

there's part of your answer -- Bush jr, er I mean King George, was the 2nd worst president. The first was Ronal Reagan, since HE was the one who put this country on the road to economic ruin. Just ask David Stockman, who admitted "we were wrong" on Reaganomics.

Of course now that you've read the truth, you won't believe it because it goes against your fascist republican brainwashing.