The Age of Illusions by Andrew Bacevich

Author:Andrew Bacevich [Bacevich, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub

6

STATE OF THE UNION

What sort of place was America in 2016 as the post–Cold War era reached the quarter-century mark? With the nation bracing itself for another presidential election, the prospect of a contest pitting another Clinton against another Bush beckoned. “Newsflash: It’s Going to Be Hillary vs. Jeb”—so concluded Politico even before ballots had been cast in the nation’s first primary.1

Some found this anticipated clash of rival dynasties reassuring. For others, it offered evidence of a disturbingly inbred and self-perpetuating political elite. Few observers, however, anticipated the thunderclap that would sound before year’s end. Yet with the benefit of hindsight, we can identify plentiful evidence that presaged its coming.

Encompassing 3.8 million square miles, divided into nearly ninety thousand distinct political jurisdictions, and with a population approaching 325 million, the United States of America is a mammoth enterprise—perhaps too big for its own good.2 Politicians seeking high office invariably agree that on balance their country is the best ever, albeit one that will become more wonderful still should they be elected. This quadrennial song and dance suffices to placate (or anesthetize) the broad political center, a.k.a. the Great American Middle Class, thereby confining national politics to a predictably narrow channel. Would-be presidents who stray from that channel invariably meet with rejection.

The election of 2016 would prove to be different. What follows is a snapshot or profile of America as that election approached, highlighting factors that coalesced by November to install Donald Trump as president. With stunning suddenness, the center gave way, exposing a country already divided into two starkly antagonistic camps. Yet for anyone not beguiled by visions of the Emerald City, signs of that division were everywhere.

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