Robert Reich, a former U.S. Secretary of Labor, has recently been making the case that massive changes are afoot in America. He is professor of public policy emeritus at University of California, Berkeley. In his memoir, “Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America,” Reich reflects on the current political landscape, particularly following the events in Minneapolis. He thinks these events mark a defining time for the country.
Reich contends that there are two very different types of tipping points being created by recent unrest. He argues the unrest roiling Minneapolis as perhaps America’s best chance to determine what kind of country it will be. Yet Minneapolis was the last straw, he says, suggesting that this meeting of social upheaval and political will has finally reached the tipping point.
While many voices in the media and the public have raised alarms about the potential for a second civil war, Reich remains skeptical. He’s not buying it—not even a tiny bit—which is good news, because those kinds of predictions might miss the bigger changes brewing beneath the surface. He urges us to understand that this moment can ignite real transformative change in our communities and society at large. Where one tipping point exists, a second may soon follow.
Drawing on his experiences living in California for over two decades, Reich notes that he has been hearing from friends and former students across the country who share his concerns. In doing so, he beautifully captures a growing sense of impatience among people in cities, suburbs and small towns that echoes his experience. “I think we’ve discovered the real meaning of community,” said a friend, highlighting how recent events have fostered a sense of solidarity among people.
Reich’s analysis includes commentary on former President Donald Trump’s actions, which he categorizes as contributing to America’s current state of disarray. He points to Trump’s pardons of January 6 rioters and his allies, along with ongoing criminal prosecutions involving figures like James Comey and Letitia James, as indicative of a broader authoritarian trend. He even includes the criminal investigation into Jerome Powell as part of this sinister landscape.
The former Secretary of Labor captures the sentiments of those around him, including an old friend from Portland, Maine, who remarked, “I’ve lived here for more than 20 years and don’t recall a time when we felt as united.” This feeling of togetherness during a time of separation shines through in these stories as people adjust to the reality of what these new politics mean.
Reich’s main charge is that such calumny undermines the democratic political debate. He recalls a conversation where someone stated, “They lied through their teeth. I saw the videos! Can’t trust them ever again. None of them. Pack of liars.” This sentiment is indicative of a wider, and frankly disturbing, growing distrust among everyday citizens toward their leaders and institutions.