Since election night, one question has occupied my mind: Where are we as a country? Many pundits have stated the nation is further to the right than it was circa 2020, based on President Trump’s emphatic victory. On the other side of the aisle – well, it’s difficult to know the left’s analysis of today’s America.
Some of our left-wing brothers and sisters are decrying the “end of democracy,” the “revival of white supremacy,” and the “victory of misogyny” in the most recent American election. Other, more level-headed, real-world-occupying liberals or progressives are calling for moderation, for repentance from the culture wars, and for a return to “working class appeals.” In my estimation, the current state of America is hard to gauge in this respect, but keep an eye on the Democrats over the next four years – their words and actions will indicate where the soul of our nation truly lies.
As a political observer, I tend to look at the big picture, trying to discern the story of America at a political and societal level — where we have been, where we are, and where we’re going. I am skeptical of the “hot off the presses” story of the moment. Sometimes, these stories are profound, historical indicators of America’s political culture. But more often, they are overreactions, convenient distractions, or political stunts part of a larger strategic game.
Many of the faces on your television or phone screen want you gazing at these shiny stories, whether it be the controversial Matt Gaetz appointment or the election of John Thune as Senate majority leader. But I want to encourage you to reflect, even pray, on the question I started with, and the sequences of the American story I listed just a few lines above.
I ask this because, as a 21-year-old, I am finding it very difficult to grasp this question and to extract an answer, and I think the same is true for almost all my peers.
Sure, this is to be expected from any young person who still has lots to learn and observe in life and in the broader social sense. However, I believe it is particularly hard for my generation to understand America right now.
I’m sure many of my peers can relate to this to some degree, but I want to offer what my perspective of American politics has been thus far in my life.
From a young age, I remember going with my mom to fill out her ballot anytime she voted. I can confidently say I am the only 21-year-old to vote for McCain, Romney, and Trump (three times), albeit on my mother’s ballot.
Humor aside, I became aware of politics during the Obama Era. Granted, it was an unprecedented time in America with the first black president, as well as possibly the most far-left president in American history to that point. Obama stoked racial conflict, and elicited passionate, while deserved, backlash from conservatives. But my parents, grandparents, and other close adults still were holding to and instilling in me the classic American attitude: Always respect the president no matter the man, find a common interest in the love of God and country, and don’t idolize politics.
Come 2016, a lot of that changed. The election was everything. Hatred for both candidates was palpable. The Republican primaries were chaotic. Bernie Sanders had the nomination stolen from him. The candidate with a 1% chance to win, according to the alleged news outlet the New York Times, was victorious.
The next four years were chaotic. Sen. McCain, who once vehemently opposed Obamacare, voted to save it. Speaker Paul Ryan slow-walked the Trump agenda, then resigned. White House staff conspired against the president, quit their jobs, and ran to the media to bash him. Trump was called a Russian agent and impeached (for the first time).
That was all before 2020 with COVID, the summer of riots, the Democratic primaries, and the extremely controversial election results. Biden won with a mandate for a “return to normalcy.”
I trust I do not need to tell anyone reading this that the presidential tenure of a man with dementia, two global conflicts, and a failed red-wave midterm was anything but normal.
Then came 2024, a year we’d like to forget, bringing assassination attempts, prosecutions, candidate switches, crazy debates, and polarizing rhetoric.
I recount all this to describe my experience of American politics. All the adults say we need to return to normal – but what is normal? Didn’t normal give us Trump? Wasn’t normal politics a scenario where Republicans claimed conservatism, and then rolled over to progressivism?
So should normal really be the goal? Or are we trying to bring a new brand of politics, where conservatism is genuine, the left becomes more moderate, or conservative, or just less … crazy?
This really hit me on election night. The right-wing politicos were either ecstatic or relieved – or both.
But I didn’t really feel either; it was strange.
The more I think about it, the more I realize this was because it never really occurred to me how tragic a Harris presidency would have been. No, it wouldn’t have been the last election. America would have survived, probably, but what version of America?
A Harris presidency would’ve been routine American politics as far as my generation is concerned. Chaos, hatred, and the leftist long march would’ve carried on. But that didn’t happen. Trump won.
And if this conclusion was hard to detect throughout this article, here it is:
Trump, his cabinet, his coalition and all of us have a chance to do something special for my generation. We can create a new normal, one where conservatism thrives in the halls of government, in the institutions, in education, business, etc. Where, hopefully, the left is forced to moderate so we don’t have to worry about the future if they win. Where we keep a watchful eye on politics, but we can trust the people in power more, so we have more room to focus on our families, our communities, our Lord.
The possibilities are bright, and the next four years will be an immeasurable period of America’s story.
Carter Ashcraft is a 21-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Ala., who is majoring in political science at the University of Alabama. You can contact him at carterashcraft12@gmail.com.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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