[On Christmas Day 1776, George Washington had Paine’s first essay read to his dispirited soldiers to boost moral. Shortly afterward the energized soldiers — emboldened by Paine’s words — launched a surprise attack on unsuspecting Hessians and won the decisive battle of Trenton.]
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Thomas Paine, Dec 23, 1776
This has been going on for a lot longer than that. A lot longer. In the case of the USA, for example, look at its history. Broke away from the British. Immediately attacked with weapons and financial tools. Then attacked again (War of 1812/Battle of New Orleans). then attacked again. Then attacked again. Et cetera. The Adversary scored some decisive wins in establishing the Income Tax, the Federal Reserve, and Welfare. And in pulling the USA into WWI, WWII, and all of the other conflicts since then. If by "50 years" you are referring to the killing of JFK, we must recognize that that was just another signpost on this path that the USA has been on for quite a long time. I do concede that it seems like it has been accelerating in the last 20-30 years, but that could just be how story arcs go. We are in the Denouement. We shall see if we overcome.