Who Still Believes in the Soul of America?

Happy joint MLK-inauguration day, everyone.

This moment, depending on who you ask, may mark a beginning, an ending, or maybe nothing at all. With regard to the idea of what America is—that is, a nation with a soul, with an idea of itself—I say this is an ending.

I’m no Joe Biden superfan, but I believe that both he and Kamala Harris truly held visions of America. Biden was better at communicating his. Even during his farewell address, I found myself able to slip easily into what is probably also Captain America’s idea of America: A nation of hardworking, fair-minded, and talented people who, aided by robust systems of support, are free to build decent lives for themselves. Biden spoke of an America that is above all good. I can’t say I believe, but I believe he does.

Harris had a different vision, one less abstract but still closely tied to Biden’s. If you’ve listened to Harris talk about literally anything, I think you’d agree that her personal experience is what is most real to her. Yes, that’s the case for everyone, but not everyone accesses their beliefs through their personal experience the way she does. Harris could never answer the broad, ideological questions asked of her during interviews, but her beliefs became quite clear when she spoke about her life. Her family taught her that wherever she was, she belonged there. She believes in personal responsibility and in taking action to protect others, and she believes that systems can be improved from the inside. I don’t think Harris thinks America is good like Biden does, but looking at the life she has lived, one can trace a story of unyielding commitment to people and their protection. I think that was Harris’ vision of America—a place where people felt like they could rely on something, that someone had their back.

What is Donald Trump’s vision of America? As far as I can tell, he doesn’t have one. Maybe he’s inspired some in others, but the man himself seems untethered from any promise or story of this country. There’s nothing inherently wrong with not having such a vision; Biden and Harris failed to make good on a lot of their own ideals, anyway. But someone who is tied to nothing can be moved by just about anything. Trump operates in favors and transactions, and he has surrounded himself with a cabinet that, for the most part, wants nothing more than to win his approval and secure their own futures.

JD Vance and the tech crowd (Musk, Zuck, Bezos) are perhaps the exception. They want to see certain things come to fruition, but I still don’t think they have much to say on America. JD Vance wants women to have more babies (yuck), and I shiver at the thought of whatever Elon Musk is cooking up, but a vision of America is not a particular set of human rights restrictions or someone’s dream business ventures.

Maybe you think all this talk of stories and visions is worthless to begin with, but I disagree. The idea of the American Soul implores us to aspire to goodness in one way or another. Goodness serves the prosperity of the many, while greed serves the prosperity of the few at the expense of everyone else. The soullessness of this administration matters. So, if you are feeling hopeless, I suggest trying to think of something to believe in, something to be strong about in the next four years. Do not give in to the incredible erosion of standards we are about to witness.