American Restoration: The Battle for the Soul of America

• In Event: Shortcomings of Democracy and the Path Forward

Abstract

The first part of this paper examines the role of discourses of restoration in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. For Trump this largely took the form of extending his 2016 frame “Make America Great Again” to “Make America Great Again, Again” while Joe Biden implored us to “Build Back Better” and win the “Battle for the Soul of America.” These frames were shorthand for a choice between the restoration of an imagined America of broken federalism, oppressive state violence against minorities, and massive deregulation versus a return to ‘normalcy’ - a technocratic neoliberal administered society that “believes in science.” Cornel West described this choice as one between disaster and catastrophe. Biden, the disaster, prevailed in the general election after consolidating support in the party primary to crush the campaign of Bernie Sanders. While nothing is certain, based upon Biden’s statements and personal political history, we can expect an emphasis on bipartisanship, a deference to corporate interests, a reluctance to challenge the police, and a hostility to medicare for all. The second part of this paper considers the danger posed by Biden’s message of restoration, unity and bipartisanship. The storming of the Capitol on January 6th should have put to rest any reluctance to recognize the insurgent elements of white supremacy, conspiracy theories, and fascism in large segments of the population. Unity, let alone neoliberalism, is ill equipped to combat these forces and Biden’s restoration may imperil us in both the short and long term. Marcuse, in his essay “Repressive Tolerance,” demonstrates the danger of liberal tolerance in societies built and sustained by fundamental inequalities and destructive forces. In his 1968 postscript, he argues for a “discriminating tolerance” that limited the ability of the right to advocate for regressive, antidemocratic, racist, and unequal policies and ideals. Central to his argument is a recognition, even fifty years ago, of the inequality between the left and right in a media and culture industry dominated by capitalism. Our media ecosystem is even more complex, entrenched, and monetized today and it’s very nature has created new opportunities for regressive propaganda. Combatting these forces openly and forcefully is necessary to sustain democracy and unity and bipartisanship shrinks before that task. Similarly, neoliberalism prevents Democrats from offering an alternative narrative, diagnosis, or vision to oppose Trumpism and the new Republican Party. Biden’s election staved off catastrophe, but for how long?

Author

• Michael K. Stein, University of Massachusetts, Amherst