But how does one define the "correct" way to run such a huge and complex country? It is not an easy task, and must be continuously revised in response to many changes, some of them cyclic, and some of them not. It cannot be unanimous as to what the correct way is at any given point in time.
The correct way is the most efficient way to turn around American attitudes and not the most popular. You will have a lot of angry republicans.. and democrats... by whatever this hypothetical correct approach could be. But you would end up with much less polarized American society at the end which is more willing to send a mission to Jupiter's moons instead of helping Halliburton set up its next oil field.