In the heat of America's political kitchen, the temperature has been cranked up, and the nation's ability to remain cool, to reflect rather than react, has all but evaporated. As Allan Bloom ominously forecasted in The Closing of the American Mind, we now stand in 2024, witnessing the culmination of a society that has all but closed its mind and sealed itself off from thoughtful deliberation.
The allure of immediacy has ensnared us. The rise of the Internet and, more acutely, social media, has conditioned an impatient populace that favors knee-jerk reactions over measured responses. There's a deceptive comfort in this reactivity: it promises a quick release from the discomfort of stress and tension. Yet, this is a pyrrhic victory. In our rush to alleviate personal pressure, we've become agents of collective distress, our hasty reactions landing like blows upon the psyche of our fellow citizens, inciting an endless cycle of reactivity.
Enter Donald Trump. A figure who not only thrives in this frenzied landscape but fuels it. Since his ascent to the political stage in 2015, Trump has become synonymous with the term "counter-puncher." To his supporters, this is a badge of honor—a symbol of a man who doesn't just stand his ground but actively fights back. Yet, the office of the President requires more than the ability to land a punch. It demands foresight, restraint, and the capacity to forge long-term solutions from the crucible of conflict.
Trump's presidency was marked by an unrelenting storm of headlines, controversies, and tweets—a daily testament to his reactive nature and the news media following suit to grow ratings. And while a leader must be able to stand firm against adversaries, the reactions that serve us in the moment often falter in the face of the future. Reactive politics can win battles but rarely do they secure the peace that is necessary for a nation or the world to flourish in the long term.
As we stand on the precipice of another election, it seems increasingly likely that Trump will reclaim the presidency if his legal troubles don’t prevent him from running. This will not be through the strength of his reflective capacities, but because America has become a land of reactivity. The electorate, primed by the immediacy of social media and the relentless pace of modern life, may once again choose the candidate who mirrors their impulses rather than one who would challenge them to think beyond the moment.
To avert this fate, to truly "Make America Great Again," we must endeavor to "Make America Think Again." The future we yearn for—a future of sustained positivity and hope—hinges not on our capacity to react but to listen, to reflect, and then to respond with insight and informed intention.
The task before us is formidable. It demands a collective reevaluation of our values and a concerted effort to cultivate a society that prizes reflection and discernment over the ease of reactivity. Our leaders should be exemplars of these virtues, guiding us not toward the next conflict, but toward the best path forward.
As we gaze into the mirror of our national consciousness, we must ask ourselves: are we content to be a nation that lashes out at the slightest provocation, or will we strive to be a society that ponders before it speaks, that plans before it acts? The answer to this question will shape not just the forthcoming election, but the very soul and future of America in the years to come.
In 2024, Trump may win, but it is America that stands to lose, unless we can reverse the closing of our collective mind and open ourselves once more to the power of thought, to the promise of a future borne not out of reactivity, but out of reflection and consideration. Only then can we hope to heal the divides that cut deep across our nation and emerge as a people united not by the simplicity of our reactions, but by the depth of our understanding and the wisdom of our choices.