Many of you are frightened, anxious, and in despair about this country. I feel many of these same emotions.
But today I wanted to explore with you the possibility that something good may come out of this awfulness — a silver lining on this darkest of clouds.
I know, I know. It’s hard to see now. Some of you may feel that nothing at all good can come out of it. But history is filled with pendulum swings — backlashes, reform movements, eras of progressivism following times of regression.
I’ve asked several historians, political scientists, and political advisers whether they believe anything good will come out of this awfulness and, if so, what it might be. I’ve arranged their responses below. Please add your thoughts.
Hence, today’s Office Hours question: Will anything good come of this awfulness?
1. No.
I honestly don’t think anything good will come from the darkness we’re now going through. Trump and his sycophants have already destroyed so much that was good in America, created such chaos, robbed and cheated America out of so much wealth, legitimized so much bigotry and hate, and undermined so much of America’s moral authority that it will take many generations to get us back to where we were before — if we can ever get there.
2. Yes. It will create a new commitment to reversing inequalities of income, wealth, and privilege.
We are now experiencing what occurs in a society whose economic benefits have been siphoned off by those at the top: an angry working class willing to embrace a demagogue, billionaires seceding from the rest of society, a shrinking and frightened middle class, and a political system run by and for large corporate interests. This is likely to produce a huge backlash in which America reverses these terrifying inequalities of income, wealth, and political power.
3. Yes. It will foster a new dedication to the rule of law and ending corruption.
The biggest backlash will be against those who have placed themselves above the law, who have used the law to punish people who tried to hold them accountable, and who have bribed, corrupted, and undermined the legal and political systems on which democracy is based. Because of this backlash, future presidents will no longer be able to use the Justice Department for personal vendettas or rewards, rake in huge amounts of money for themselves and their families, or exercise arbitrary power.
4. Yes. It will fuel a new generation of progressive leadership.
I believe the best thing to come out of this will be a new generation of progressive leaders, similar to those who emerged in the 1930s and 1960s — politicians, grass-roots leaders, heads of nonprofits, even some CEOs. They’ll be leaders who understand that our prosperity and success depend on the prosperity and success of many others, who seek diversity and inclusion, and for whom fostering social justice, protecting human rights, and preserving the planet are core values.
Is there any good that’s likely to come out of the horrific time we’re now going through?
Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/.