How the core debate in U.S. politics has shifted in the 21st century

---

The 20th Century’s Defining Question: How Big Should Government Be?

For most of the 20th century, American politics revolved around the size of government.

• The Left (Progressives): Use government power to reduce inequality, expand welfare, and strengthen the safety net.
• The Right (Conservatives): Lower taxes, reduce regulation, and rely on private enterprise for growth and innovation.

Ronald Reagan captured this philosophy in his inaugural address:

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

Back then, society felt relatively stable. Families, communities, and institutions commanded trust. Politics was about improving lives—through tax cuts, new social programs, or other policy solutions.

---

The 21st Century: A Different Political Landscape

Enter the 21st century—and Donald Trump.

Trump broke from the traditional “small government” conservatism, embracing big-government populism instead.

• Tariffs and trade wars to reshape global commerce
• Industrial policy that picks winners and losers
• Federal intervention in universities and even corporate governance
• The U.S. government taking “golden shares” in private companies like U.S. Steel

Today, strong executive power and federal intervention are no longer anomalies—they’re the norm.

---

“America Is Broken” — The Public Mood

Why the change?

Recent polls show two-thirds of Americans believe the country is broken.
Since 2007, satisfaction with “the way things are going in America” has hovered near just 25%—a steep fall from the 50–70% range in the 1980s and ’90s.

Signs of decline are everywhere:

• Family breakdown
• Disintegrating communities
• Declining church attendance
• Addiction and overdose crises
• Deep distrust of elites in media, academia, and government

When people believe social order has collapsed, they don’t want government to “do less.”
They want a leader who will restore order—fast.

---

Social Order Becomes the Central Political Question

French philosopher Simone Weil once said:

“Order is the first need of all.”

Stable families, safe neighborhoods, shared moral values, rule of law—these are the boundaries in which people can live meaningful lives.

Now, the defining question in U.S. politics isn’t:

“Who can cut taxes more?”
It’s:
“Who can most effectively restore social order?”

---

The Rise of Populism

In this climate, populism has flourished.

Populists are often socially conservative (valuing tradition, morality) but economically progressive (supporting redistribution).

Trump’s supporters see him as a “misarchist”—a leader who distrusts government in general but is willing to use state power to enforce traditional order and morality.

His base believes he’s the only one who can “take down the elites” and bring back the America they remember.

---

The Democratic Party’s Blind Spot

The Democrats, meanwhile, are stuck in a policy-first mindset.

• They overlook hard-to-measure forces like community bonds, cultural values, and moral renewal.
• They’re seen as a party of wealthy, educated urban elites.
• They struggle to understand the resentment and alienation felt in rural and working-class America.

This means they’re not even on the playing field in the cultural and values-driven politics of the current era.

---

The Political Battlefield Ahead

The new political competition looks like this:

“Who can restore order and community?” — not just “Who can pass better policies?”

Republicans already have their champion in Trump.
Democrats have yet to offer a compelling alternative.

If they can present a realistic, credible vision for rebuilding moral and social order, they could regain influence even in this populist era.
But without it, they risk ceding the stage entirely.

---

Final Thoughts

As the NYT column argues, the central debate of the 21st century isn’t about government size—it’s about restoring the fabric of society.

The question is no longer whether government should be big or small, but who can rebuild trust, community, and shared values.
Whoever answers that question convincingly will shape America’s future.