In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, members of Congress came together to sing God Bless America, showcasing unity in the face of a devastating threat. This unity is unlikely to be seen today due to the current state of politics, but it's possible that in the face of another existential crisis, people would put aside their differences. Historically, people have come together in times of great threat, and it's likely that this would happen again. The current state of politics is petty and angry, but this may be due to the fact that life is relatively good for many people, with low unemployment, high household wealth, and innovation. As the world improves, people's threshold for complaining drops, and they focus on smaller, often trivial problems. This is because people have a minimum level of stress and will always find something to worry about, no matter how small. This phenomenon is known as Concept Creep, where the definition of a problem expands beyond its original boundaries, making it seem like the world is getting worse. However, this can also be seen as a sign of progress, as people are no longer dealing with major issues and are instead focusing on smaller problems. Stress and anxiety can be motivating forces, and people are naturally problem solvers, but this can also lead to seeing trouble where none exists. Ultimately, the fact that people are arguing over seemingly trivial issues may be a sign that the world is actually improving.